Abstract
Traditional dress for women in Ghana, known as “slit and kaba”, previously required no standardised sizing and fit, but as this dress has undergone an evolution and taken on more western features, the fit and manufacturing quality have become increasingly important. This paper evaluates the effect of the evolution of the slit and kaba on the current manufacturing processes adopted by the micro and small scale enterprises in Ghana. A qualitative approach was adopted to collect data in three metropolitan centres in Ghana from dressmakers of the traditional dress. An inductive approach through the grounded theory technique was utilised to analyse the data and the findings revealed that the traditional dress has undergone a considerable change in fit and form. The over reliance on trainee apprentices as workers has affected the quality of garments produced in relation to standardisation. It is also evident that most of the dressmakers rely on domestic equipment which is rudimentary in terms of technological development. This paper highlights the importance of skills and adequate equipment in the achievement of fit and quality in the area of garment manufacture in Ghana.
 Keywords: Garmentmanufacture;Qualitystandards;Fit;Traditionaldress;Evolution.
Highlights
It has been established that the primary influence of dress type worn by individuals in a society is culture (Maynard, 2004; Barnard, 2002)
The traditional slit and kaba is mostly made in local or indigenous designs and fabrics such as wax prints and kente which are associated with the cultural beliefs and practices in Ghana
It is evident that several factors such as western fashion trends, magazines, fashion shows and technological advancement have contributed to the change in the form and fit of the traditional dress
Summary
It has been established that the primary influence of dress type worn by individuals in a society is culture (Maynard, 2004; Barnard, 2002). The Ghanaian slit and kaba used for both formal and informal occasions by women is viewed as a representation of social relations and ideology through the use of traditional fabrics with symbolic connotation (Dogbe, 2003; Salm and Falola, 2002; Arthur and Rowe, 2001; Littrell, 1980). These fabrics function as a non-material culture as they signify the values and beliefs of the different ethnic groups. It is worth stating that Ghana has a dual system of dress owing to colonisation, and this system is the traditional and western
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