Yesterday, Tuesday 19 October, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, opened City-sponsored All Fashion Sourcing, the leading international event for discovering premium apparel, textiles, footwear, and other designer items on the African continent.
Taking place at The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront, the hybrid event is expected to welcome some 2 000 people into a physical and virtual space where they will find quality products from some of the Mother City’s most innovative designers and businesses.
‘The sector is the second-largest employer within the manufacturing sector in Cape Town and currently employs 24 734 people in the city.
‘Clothing and textile continues to be a major player in Cape Town’s economy and, through the City’s continued support of Strategic Business Partners (SBPs) such as the Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC), the Cape Clothing & Textile Cluster (CCTC), and the Craft and Design Institute (CDI), we are helping to grow the sector back to where it was many years ago before the influx of cheap imports,’ said Alderman Vos.
Between 2014 and 2015, sectoral exports grew by 12,6%, driven by strong increases in exports to Namibia (Cape Town’s largest export market for clothing and textile products). Exports to the United States, under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), has increased by 53,2%, making it the fastest-growing of Cape Town’s top export markets (Wesgro, 2016).
All Fashion Sourcing is aimed at linking local and international suppliers and manufactures with retailers, chain stores and private labels and to create a high-profile trade fair showcasing quality products and services and industry experts. The event places a spotlight on SMMEs and helping them to explore international business opportunities.
‘Through events such as All Fashion Sourcing, we have the potential to ensure that Cape Town continues to be the go-to city on the African continent and globally for business, trade, and clothing and textile,’ said Alderman Vos.
As the country and world emerges from the pandemic, the local industry is poised for renewed growth in 2021 and beyond.
‘Cape Town has a legacy for making clothing and textile products that is unmatched in its quality and so it gives me great pleasure that the City is providing a platform to not only keep that legacy alive, but to share it with the world through such an event. This will keep our city at the forefront of design and creativity,’ said Alderman Vos.
Source: City Of Cape Town