Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers

Purpose: Clothing is one of the most prioritised needs of people since it creates various impressions about them. Yet, compared to the foreign ones, the demand for Ghanaian-made is in low demand due to arguments on inferior quality. The purpose of the study was to investigate quality issues within...

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Main Authors: Nana Banimaa Oduro Boateng, Akosua Mawuse Amankwah, Solomon Marfo Ayesu, Cynthia Akua Chichi, George Kwame Fobiri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Institute of Textiles and Fashion Professionals – Ghana 2024-12-01
Series:Fashion and Textiles Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.itfpgh.com/ftr/article/view/77
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author Nana Banimaa Oduro Boateng
Akosua Mawuse Amankwah
Solomon Marfo Ayesu
Cynthia Akua Chichi
George Kwame Fobiri
author_facet Nana Banimaa Oduro Boateng
Akosua Mawuse Amankwah
Solomon Marfo Ayesu
Cynthia Akua Chichi
George Kwame Fobiri
author_sort Nana Banimaa Oduro Boateng
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Clothing is one of the most prioritised needs of people since it creates various impressions about them. Yet, compared to the foreign ones, the demand for Ghanaian-made is in low demand due to arguments on inferior quality. The purpose of the study was to investigate quality issues within Ghana's garment industry from the perspective of SMEs and dressmakers. Methodology/Design: A qualitative approach was employed, utilising face-to-face interviews and focus groups with industry participants. Data was analysed using NVivo to identify key themes such as pre-production, production, and post-production phases. These themes included: the type of sewing machine used; human resources and work environment; quality supervision and inspection; press as you sew; garment accessory assessment; trimming suitability and aesthetics; finishing techniques; comparative assessment of quality; and packaging. Findings: The study identified major quality challenges in each phase of the garment production process. These include inadequate training during pre-production, inconsistent quality control during production, and poor finishing in post-production. Practical and Social Implications: The study has implications for policy interventions, by addressing these quality issues, the study suggests that SMEs can enhance their competitiveness and sustainability. Improved training, investment in better equipment, and stringent quality controls are crucial for the industry's growth and market reputation. Improving garment quality in Ghana's SMEs can boost national pride, reduce reliance on imports, strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and ensure fair labour practices, this study provides a holistic view of quality issues in the garment industry, offering unique insights from local dressmakers and SMEs, and highlighting specific challenges and opportunities for improvement. Originality: This study provides a distinctive perspective into the specific quality issues faced by Ghanaian SMEs and dressmakers, offering targeted solutions to bridge the gap between small-scale and large-scale producers.
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher The Institute of Textiles and Fashion Professionals – Ghana
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spelling doaj-art-a588ccf174824227b045f9ebd9af28e22025-08-20T01:55:11ZengThe Institute of Textiles and Fashion Professionals – GhanaFashion and Textiles Review2665-09832024-12-01510.35738/ftr.v5.2024.02Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and DressmakersNana Banimaa Oduro Boateng0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3527-566XAkosua Mawuse Amankwah1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1732-0989Solomon Marfo Ayesu2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3640-0298Cynthia Akua Chichi3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2358-119XGeorge Kwame Fobiri4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-6699Department of Fashion and Textiles Studies, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Industrial Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-GhanaDepartment of Fashion and Textiles Studies, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Industrial Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Fashion and Textiles Studies, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana Purpose: Clothing is one of the most prioritised needs of people since it creates various impressions about them. Yet, compared to the foreign ones, the demand for Ghanaian-made is in low demand due to arguments on inferior quality. The purpose of the study was to investigate quality issues within Ghana's garment industry from the perspective of SMEs and dressmakers. Methodology/Design: A qualitative approach was employed, utilising face-to-face interviews and focus groups with industry participants. Data was analysed using NVivo to identify key themes such as pre-production, production, and post-production phases. These themes included: the type of sewing machine used; human resources and work environment; quality supervision and inspection; press as you sew; garment accessory assessment; trimming suitability and aesthetics; finishing techniques; comparative assessment of quality; and packaging. Findings: The study identified major quality challenges in each phase of the garment production process. These include inadequate training during pre-production, inconsistent quality control during production, and poor finishing in post-production. Practical and Social Implications: The study has implications for policy interventions, by addressing these quality issues, the study suggests that SMEs can enhance their competitiveness and sustainability. Improved training, investment in better equipment, and stringent quality controls are crucial for the industry's growth and market reputation. Improving garment quality in Ghana's SMEs can boost national pride, reduce reliance on imports, strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and ensure fair labour practices, this study provides a holistic view of quality issues in the garment industry, offering unique insights from local dressmakers and SMEs, and highlighting specific challenges and opportunities for improvement. Originality: This study provides a distinctive perspective into the specific quality issues faced by Ghanaian SMEs and dressmakers, offering targeted solutions to bridge the gap between small-scale and large-scale producers. https://journal.itfpgh.com/ftr/article/view/77ClothingGhanaian-madegarment productiondressmakerspre-productionpost-production
spellingShingle Nana Banimaa Oduro Boateng
Akosua Mawuse Amankwah
Solomon Marfo Ayesu
Cynthia Akua Chichi
George Kwame Fobiri
Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
Fashion and Textiles Review
Clothing
Ghanaian-made
garment production
dressmakers
pre-production
post-production
title Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
title_full Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
title_fullStr Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
title_full_unstemmed Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
title_short Quality issues in the Garment Industry: A perspective of Ghana’s SMEs and Dressmakers
title_sort quality issues in the garment industry a perspective of ghana s smes and dressmakers
topic Clothing
Ghanaian-made
garment production
dressmakers
pre-production
post-production
url https://journal.itfpgh.com/ftr/article/view/77
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AT solomonmarfoayesu qualityissuesinthegarmentindustryaperspectiveofghanassmesanddressmakers
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