When clothing designers become business people: a design centred training methodology for empowerment incubation

Abstract

Artisan entrepreneurial clothing designers in emerging countries often rely on their indigenous knowledge when they apply technical design skills in their micro businesses. Many artisan entrepreneurs in townships fail to design sustainable businesses that reach alternative markets (beyond the borders of the township). Empowerment incubation hubs in emerging counties like South Africa, aim to enhance the business strategies and access of artisan micro business owners while improving technical design skills of the selected candidates. An important starting point is to create awareness of strategic planning during the design processes within the particular contexts of candidates in incubation programmes. The purpose of this paper is to describe a training methodology that was developed for a cohort of micro clothing business owner-designers in a South African township. A training methodology is recommended for empowerment incubators in townships in emerging contexts.