Competitive Advantage Threats and Opportunities in the South African Clothing, Textiles, Leather, and Footwear (CTLF) Industry

Sipho  Mbatha

doi:10.36941/ajis-2021-0159

Authors

Sipho Mbatha Department of Design Studies, Tshwane University of Technology, Staatsartillerie Rd, Pretoria West, Pretoria, 0183, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2021-0159

Keywords:

Quick response, competitive advantage, lead time, industrial policy, and Porter’s diamond model

Abstract

Despite the employment and competitive advantage decline experienced in previous years, the South African clothing, textile, leather, and footwear (SACTLF) industry is still a significant contributor to the country’s manufacturing sector. To restore employment figures last seen a decade ago in the industry, the SACTLF has to explore competitive advantage threats and opportunities, among others. To explore competitive advantage threats and opportunities in the SACTLF industry, a leading SACTLF retail group and two leading clothing manufacturers’ associations (representing over 100 CTLF organisations) were purposefully sampled and interviewed. Emerging from the transcripts is that the low rate of innovation and lack of access to manufacturing inputs are the main competitive advantage threats. Strengthening quick-response time and localisation emerged as competitively advantageous opportunities. This article’s findings show that the SACTLF industry has the potential to develop a competitive advantage. The findings of the study contribute new knowledge to the literature.

Received: 27 July 2021 / Accepted: 7 October 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021