Textile and Clothing Sector, and the Industrialization of Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

While industrialization is considered to be the key for achieving economic development and for a high standard of living, the overall industrial capacities, including the textile and clothing sector, in Sub-Saharan Africa is still at its early stages. Since the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, textile and clothing sector has been playing a pioneering role in the industrialization of many countries in a repetitive manner. Some countries successfully used the textile and clothing sector in evolving their industrialization level and still maintain high-value added textile and clothing manufacturing, such as fashion industry or technical textile. Several factors like low wages, and cotton production and logistical advantages provide a convenient environment for the development of the textile and clothing sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently a fashion industry is emerging in Africa in tandem with increasing interest in African fashion. With a comprehensive approach, Africa can make use of this opportunity to capitalize on textile and clothing as a facilitator of overall industrialization of Sub-Saharan Africa.