Clothing product development in small-medium enterprises: an emerging nation perspective

ABSTRACT

Several scholars have documented and described the process of developing clothing products in large enterprises located in industrialised nations. Despite the considerable research that has been undertaken on the clothing product development process, there is a gap in the literature on the process of developing clothing products in small-medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those located in emerging nations such as South Africa. The purpose of this exploratory study was to contribute to the literature on the clothing development process by describing the process of developing clothing products in a South African SME. A qualitative case study was conducted at an SME based in Limpopo, South Africa. The SME was found to have a shorter product development process due to fewer decision-makers being involved in the product development process, as well as fewer product development activities taking place.

KEYWORDS:

• Clothing product development
• Design process
• Small business

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).