Abstract
M.Tech. (Fashion Design)
In January 2014, the Mail & Guardian published an article, ‘Going out of business is coming into fashion’, which claims that “South African fashion is in a state” (Witepski 2014:5). The journalist based her statement on the number of fashion designers that went out of business in the previous year (2013). Local designers, such as Tiaan Nagel, Marion and Lindie, Hip Hop, to name but a few, were all popular with both the public and the media, but just did not manage to stay afloat. Witepski (2014:5) writes that the problem with these businesses does not seem to be a lack of talent but rather a lack of business skills.
Although the South African fashion sector has increased its economic profile in the last decade, the Gauteng Creative Mapping Project (GCMP) claims that a number of factors restrict its growth (Ameru & Caj 2008:190). One such issue is the sustainability of small businesses and, according to GCMP, this is an area where the government needs to lend its support