South Africa will soon have a new sustainable textile and apparel cluster to supply more traceable products. The initiative is backed by a five-year production plan to leapfrog the local industry’s competitiveness in sustainable textile and apparel manufacturing. It will supply local and international customers with fully traceable sustainable apparel and household textile products.
One of the main aims is to support local industry, both by developing production capacity and using local raw materials -- starting with cotton and then broadening its scope to include all natural and synthetic fibers. There are also plans to establish a National Sector Body to represent the entire value chain from fiber to end-product, with sector leaders working closely with government to map out the future development of the industry and address mutual issues of national concern.
Funding for the initiative is through the Competitiveness Improvement Program, which, in turn, is part of the overall Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Program aimed at stabilising employment and improving overall competitiveness in clothing, textile, footwear, leather and leather goods manufacturing. The textile and clothing industry in South Africa offers the full range of services, from natural and synthetic fiber production to non-wovens, spinning, weaving, tufting, knitting, dyeing and finishing.
