Tenacity and determination will see you the fashion industry

Many people when they think of the fashion design industry only think of it in terms of designing clothes or attire. The truth is, this industry is much broader than that and there are many niche markets that you can tap into.

South Africa has all the talent and resources and therefore has the opportunity to become the central focus of the fashion industry on the African continent.

Before 1994 the fashion design industry was predominantly white but that changed after 1994 as doors began opening to some black designers in the industry. As opposed to the number of white designers there is still a need for more blacks.

Getting into the fashion design industry is not difficult since there is an opportunity to start operating from home. As a start-up there is actually no need to worry about renting space there business is stable.

Most successful fashion designers started their businesses operating home. They created their new designs and started selling them in the informal market in order to build reputation. Their businesses gradually grew from such as the owners were at the same time learning the tricks of the business and also how to maintain control over cash flow.

Many of them still sell their designs in both formal and informal economies. Some sell their products through their own boutiques while others sell through private boutiques. Many designers complain that it is difficult to maintain the correct balance
between creativity and the commercial success.

If it is not a complaint about the difficulty in getting credit for the stock, emerging designers also face a fierce pricing competition from Asian products. They find it difficult to come up with prices that are within the reach of the local market and at the same time make profits.The fashion industry is infested with many counterfeit goods that sell cheap thus making it difficult for trade profitably.

But all this does not mean that the fashion industry is the industry of doom and hardship. Industry can be very lucrative if you know what you are doing. In addition, tenacity and determination also play a big role in the success of a fashion design business. There are times when you will feel like you can give up.

Interesting though is that while all this is happening, there are still many opportunities and avenues one can explore.For example, the growth and recognition of South African fashion design resulted in the heightened visibility and activity of various interrelated industries that serve South African fashion industry.

These interrelated industries include modelling agencies, hairstylists and makeup artists, fashion media, fashion events and private boutiques to name the few.

Since competition is so fierce in the fashion industry you need to have an understanding of the industry.Only fashion designers that have a clear understanding of what they are doing make it to the top. These designers invest their time and resources in nurturing their brands.

They also spend more time creating networks and establishing their reputation. In addition, these kinds of designers are also reliable.

Irrespective of what the South African fashion design is like now there is hope for improvement. Both government and the private sector have committed themselves to facilitate the improvement of this industry.

Some measures that are in place and others are being contemplated. The South African fashion industry is set to grow. The development of the Johannesburg Fashion Cluster and others that are going to follow are examples of such measures taken to develop the fashion industry.

A cluster refers to the combination of businesses that make up an informal clothing sector which includes traders, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors of maintenance equipment.

Since the designing job is daunting and tedious, it is imperative that designers get partners with different skills in order for them to focus on the designing part of the job.