Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

With an increasing global population and a culture of overconsumption, the sustainable development goals (SDG) should be at the forefront of all business endeavours, mediating the global environmental footprint. Although seen as a developing economy, the prevalence of overconsumption is rife in Africa and particularly South Africa. To promote the SDG, specifically regarding the clothing and textile industry, which is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, it is postulated that the custom-made apparel manufacturing by small and micro-enterprises (CMSME) should be utilised to minimise the use of resources, while simultaneously increasing the conscientious consumption of the South African population in terms of clothing. It is therefore instrumental to investigate the CMSME owners’ perspective of sustainability as well as their business practices throughout the entire product development process. After data saturation was reached with individual interviews in the qualitative study, findings, however, indicate that the CMSME owners do not recognise sustainability in terms of a pro-environmental approach, if they were indeed aware of sustainability, but rather in terms of designing quality garments through cost-saving initiatives only. These business owners dissuade the use of fast fashion, while promoting high quality garments through minimising the use of resources. By ensuring the long-term survival of their businesses, these owners increase their own and their community’s well-being by addressing several SDG within an emerging economies context. It is however recommended that CMSME’s in South Africa be educated regarding the potential to design, manufacture and promote garments aiding in reducing the global environmental footprint.