Thursday, June 28, 2012

A Short Introduction To The South African Clothing Industry

By Thelma Kent


There is no part of the world that can completely escape the dictates of the fashion industry and South African clothing is certainly no exception. Yet this country is unique and boasts its own distinct flavor when it comes to what people wear. Of course, everybody wants to be fashionable yet locals often opt for comfort above all.

One of the main influences on the apparel worn by the citizens of this country is the climate. The RSA does not suffer the severe cold that is commonly experienced by the Northern hemisphere. People therefore dress to accommodate the weather. Winter costumes, for example, will never be suitable to be worn in Europe because the winters are mild.

Another major influence is the fact that the RSA is home to a wide variety of cultures. Many cultures have their own traditional costumes and these are worn with pride at all kinds of occasions. It is not uncommon to attend an event wear the dress varies from long flowing robes to prim and proper pinstriped suits.

It is only natural that international trends find their way into local designs and fashions. In most cases, however, local designers make changes to such designs to accommodate the climate and the materials available. Imported clothes remain popular, however, especially amongst those that focus on being trendy and with it.

While many South Africans are conscious of international trends and enjoy being stylish and fashionable themselves they do not always become slaves of the current trends. There are many examples of international trends that actually originated from this country. The rich cultural and traditional dress has been the main impetus behind several world renowned designer series.

South African clothing can be found everywhere in the world but of late the industry has been placed under tremendous pressure from cheap imports. Local manufacturers find it difficult to compete and they receive very little assistance from the government to protect them and their workers from mass imports from the East.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment