Entrepreneurship and regional development: case of fashion industry growth in South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to share the experiential learning of working within the Creative industries within a local municipality. The Fashion Industry is a sub-sector of both the creative industries and the clothing and textiles industries, and provides opportunities for innovation and creativity in the manufacturing, textiles and apparel accessories. This paper looks at the policy imperative to intervene within the Creative industries at a local level and the institutional arrangements that govern the intervention strategy. The context of the industry prior to the key interventions and the growth over the support period is considered. The paper further explores key challenges in the implementation model, historically inherited weaknesses of the sector and critical impediments to an inclusive developmental focus. The paper proposes that the feedback loop and ability to redefine strategies for implementation can act to mitigate areas of stagnation, however stakeholder engagement and participation remains a key challenge given traditional and new partisan interests. The paper concludes by suggesting that the special purpose vehicle model for industrial development holds the best potential for impact and scope however the complexities of managing interventions within the creative context remains a restraining factor.