What is the Fashion and Textiles industry?
For some, the industry begins with a practical skill or a small trading operation. others, it offers a route into manufacturing, brand development, specialist production, or digital commerce.
Businesses operate at different levels of scale, from independent artisans and home-based businesses to workshops, factories, retailers, and brands supplying national or international markets. Although their activities and operating requirements differ, they all form part of the broader fashion and textiles industry.
Defining the fashion and textiles industry
The fashion and textiles industry includes the production, processing, design, distribution, sale, and repair of clothing, footwear, fabrics, leather goods, and accessories.
It covers businesses operating at different points in the value chain. Some supply or process materials, such as fabric and leather. Others manufacture finished products, provide specialised services, or sell products directly to customers through physical or online channels.
The industry includes:
Clothing: Tailoring, dressmaking, alterations, and garment manufacturing.
Textiles: Spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing, embroidery, and fabric finishing.
Leather and footwear: Tanning, leather-goods production, shoemaking, shoe repairs, and related services.
Fashion retail: Selling clothing, footwear, bags, and accessories through markets, shops, boutiques, and online stores.
The South African Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) commonly discusses these activities under Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather (CTFL). The sector is supported by the R-CTFL Master Plan 2030, which provides a policy framework for strengthening local production, competitiveness, and participation across the value chain.
How the industry works
Fashion and textile businesses operate across four main activities:
Sourcing raw materials: Cotton, wool, silk, leather, and synthetic fibres are sourced from agricultural and industrial suppliers.
Fabric and material production: Raw materials are spun, woven, knitted, dyed, printed, or processed into usable fabric and leather.
Manufacturing:Businesses cut, sew, assemble, finish, and package garments, bags, shoes, and other products.
Sales and distribution:Finished products reach customers through markets, retailers, wholesalers, institutions, social media, and online stores.
Fashion businesses generally earn income in one of two ways:
- A tailor, repair specialist, textile-finishing workshop, or contract manufacturer is paid for the labour. The business completes a specific job and receives payment per garment, service, order, or production run.
- A clothing stall, boutique, second-hand trader, or online fashion store earns a margin on the goods they sell. The business buys or produces stock, sells it to customers at a higher price, and keeps the difference after paying for the stock.
Related industries
The fashion and textiles industry connects closely with several other industries:
Agriculture: Cotton, wool, silk, hides, and other raw materials originate from agricultural supply chains.
Manufacturing: Machinery, equipment, packaging, chemicals, and production services support textile and garment businesses.
Creative industries:Design, pattern-making, photography, branding, styling, and content creation influence product identity and market appeal.
Retail and wholesale: Markets, boutiques, wholesalers, department stores, and online platforms connect products with buyers.
Tourism and hospitality: Visitors purchase craft products, traditional textiles, souvenirs, uniforms, and locally made clothing.
Logistics and technology: Delivery services, inventory systems, payment platforms, e-commerce tools, and social media support sales and distribution.
The MSME business models within the industry
Market opportunities
Businesses can compete through different forms of specialisation:
- Custom clothing: Tailoring, dressmaking, uniforms, formalwear, and occasionwear.
- Workwear and protective clothing (PPE):Producing overalls, safety wear, and industry-specific clothing for sectors.
- Alterations and repairs:Adjustments, mending, resizing, restyling, and garment restoration.
- Textile finishing:Dyeing, printing, embroidery, washing, and other finishing services.
- Heritage and craft textiles:Traditional weaving, silk products, carpets, woollen goods, Pashmina, and other culturally distinctive products.
- Leather goods: Bags, belts, wallets, accessories, and other leather products.
- Footwear: Shoemaking, footwear production, repairs, and restoration.
- Fashion retail:Curated clothing, accessories, second-hand goods, and locally produced fashion.
- Online fashion sales: Selling clothing and footwear through websites, marketplaces, and social-commerce platforms.
OurCountry Insights feature different markets that have developed opportunities around their own materials, techniques, and traditions.
South Africa has established activity across leather goods, craft production, and locally designed fashion, Bangladesh is known for silk, and Nepal for Pashmina and woollen products. These specialisations allow businesses to compete through craftsmanship, origin, materials, cultural identity, and products that are difficult to replicate through standardised mass production.
The competencies required for success
- Understand their target customers and develop products they will buy.
- Price products accurately and manage costs, stock, cash flow, and suppliers.
- Maintain consistent quality and meet production and delivery commitments.
- Market the business and sell through suitable channels.
- Manage staff, customer orders, and business relationships.
trainerz ® has developed a free diagnostic tool: Entrepreneur Competence Test (ECT)to help entrepreneurs understand where they stand in key competence areas and sends a personalised report on where to begin.
Formalising and growing your business
Ready to move beyond individual jobs and small orders? As your business grows, you need the right foundations to manage that growth and make it work for you.
Making that transition requires you to:
- Develop a clear and profitable business model.
- Have systems in place to manage production, staff, suppliers, and stock.
- Build a customer base and increase sales.
- Use technology to run the business more efficiently.
- Safeguard your business and its assets with the right contracts.
We can help you put the right structures in place to grow your business sustainably and profitably.
Why should you consider Fashion and Textiles as an entry point into entrepreneurship?
Fashion and textile businesses can begin with a practical skill, a small amount of equipment, or access to a customer base. An entrepreneur can begin by making, repairing, finishing, or selling products, then build from proven customer demand rather than committing immediately to a large operation.
The industry also offers multiple routes to growth. Entrepreneurs can specialise in a service, develop products under their own label, supply other businesses, sell directly to customers, or build a brand around local craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Sustainable growth is possible through understanding your market, controlling costs, delivering consistent quality, and building customer trust.
For further guidance, ZeeBot is available 24/7 to answer your questions about starting your business.
