Clothing factory, Spintex Road - Accra
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Date
2009-08-18
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Abstract
An outfit is the quickest way to make an impression. Whether you prefer classic cuts, are a fashion guru, or wear the same style every day, the way you dress can speak volumes about your personality .
The African textile and clothing (T&C) industry is in a major crisis. Domestically it is hit by imports (in particular from Asian countries) with which it finds it difficult to compete. Not much of the once impressive T&C sector built during the phase of import substitution is left It is hit on foreign markets, where it has made some inroads in recent years, and where fierce competition among suppliers is now threatening exports from Africa.
The future and, to some extent, even the survival of the African textile and clothing industry is closely linked to two international processes: The changes taking place on the global T&C market after the expiry of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) on 1 January 2005; and the restructuring of the multilateral trade system, being negotiated in the current World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha round.
The expiry of the ATC marks the end of a period of some 40 years, during which much of the global T&C trade was subj ect to a special regime which centred on a politically motivated quota system. With the end of the quota system, the T&C trade is moving inside the world of WTO agreements, becoming an integral part of the WTO system, governed by the general rules and principles of this multilateral trading system.
The WTO Doha round is the second major reference. Current WTO agreements do allow the use of certain rules, which can provide protection for national T&C companies through customs duties or safeguard measures and promote exports through preferential market access. All these policy instruments are on the WTO table for negotiations again. The survival of the T&C sector and the design of domestic and international trade and industrial policies is of major relevance for the development prospect.
Description
A design thesis report submitted to the Department of Architecture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Post-Graduate Diploma in Architecture.