Thesis (Master of Retail Business Management)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2020 / Like many other suppliers, South African fashion-clothing designers have dealt with a very competitive environment within the retail industry. Thus, this research study explored the most suitable supply-chain-management model for South African fashion designers to achieve efficiency and economic sustainability within the retail environment. In today’s complex markets, the susceptibility of the supply chain is viewed as an ongoing issue for several industries and it is no different for fashion designers. As a result, in the past, the visibility of South African fashion designers in the retail environment appeared to be minimal. Matching the appropriate supplychain-management model with South African fashion designers in retail was the purpose and core focus of this research study, as the “one size fits all” approach appeared questionable and perhaps unrelatable to SMMEs. This research study explored the relationships between fashion designers and clothing retailers, together with supporting stakeholders such as government institutions, fashion councils, educational institutions, and the different consultants or agents. This was done to establish how the different parts could potentially function individually or collaboratively in order to develop an effective and sustainable supply-chain-management model for South African fashion designers in the retail environment. The primary focus and aim of the study was to assess the different functions within the supply-chain-management model and propose a more relevant model for South African fashion designers supplying the retail clothing environment. To reach the objectives of this research study, the empirical information was collected through the qualitative approach, by making use of in-depth semi-structured interviews, as that allowed the participants to answer the questions unreservedly based on their own personal and professional experience. The problem this research study identified was that a significant number of South African fashion-designer brands struggled to maintain longevity and success within the retail environment, due to the supply-chain changes South African fashion designers experienced when supplying retail. Through empirical research, it was identified that the supply-chain-management models available for retail clothing suppliers were designed for larger businesses and not specifically for fashiondesigner businesses which were classified as small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). The findings revealed that, for the fashion and retail clothing industry to realise an effective and sustainable supply-chain-management model for South African designers, the supply chain required good communication and support. The study recommended the establishment of close-proximity hubs, with fashion clothing supply chain functions, in major South African metropolitan cities, which could possibly be achieved through specialised and regulated education and the formation of a national fashion council.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Technology: Language Practice, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / The selection criteria common to all Fashion schools/departments/programmes both in South Africa and internationally, is the requirement for the applicants to pass an interview. Research confirms that in institutions where student selection includes an interview, the dropout rate is low. The need for this study arose because of the lack of structure of the current oral protocol or interview selection procedure in Fashion at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), and the need to include a larger number of previously disadvantaged applicants into the Fashion programme. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the career life histories of the Fashion degree students at the DUT to identify a set of biographical variables that can be used for student selection. Underpinned by the Systems Theory Framework, this study adapted Tinto’s Longitudinal Model of Institutional Departure to investigate pre-entry attributes and interactions within family backgrounds, skills and abilities, and prior schooling that impact the goals and commitments of students. Narrative enquiry using semi-structured in-depth interviews provided data which were processed using the three-dimensional narrative analysis approach. Findings of this study indicate the importance of pre-entry attributes and personality type that is best suited to a career in fashion, and emphasised that intrinsic interests and talents are of primary importance. The results have important implications for student interview selection as it identifies suitable and prepared applicants who will complete and graduate in the minimum time, thereby potentially increasing throughput and output rates in Fashion. Based on the results, the researcher proposed a framework for a standardised and structured interview selection procedure in Fashion at the DUT which enables access to candidates who have the potential for a career in Fashion regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background. / D

M.Tech. (Fashion) / This study is an investigation of Japanese designers, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, who are widely regarded as leading innovators in the fashion world (Kawamura 2004:36; Niessen 2003:216; Sudilc 1990:84). Collectively they have been described as avant-garde designers (Sudjic 1990:13; Breward and Gilbert 2006:58), creators of the Japanese fashion revolution in Paris (Kawamura 2005:96), and exponents of anti-fashion design (Kondo 1997:118). These designers defied the prevailing fashion norms and produced clothes referred to as "wearable art" through the use of advanced technology (Leventon 2005:25). While there are volumes of articles crediting them as revolutionary designers over the years, there is limited literature material that clearly articulates what these designers did differently. Various scholars have tried to uncover what it was that Japanese designers brought to international fashion (Koren 1984; Koda 1987; Coleridge 1989; Evans and Thornton 1989), yet none have been conclusive enough to provide the "recipe for success" that Miyake, Kawakubo and Yamamoto have achieved…

Thesis (M.Tech.: Entrepreneurship)-Dept. of Entrepreneurial Studies, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 90 leaves / The South African economy is unable to support the employment needs of the growing number of graduates. In an attempt to address these needs, the proposed study focuses on the development of an incubator system to nurture young entrepreneurs (graduates), until they are able to survive independently – usually in two to three years.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Entrepreneurship)-Dept. of Entrepreneurial Studies, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 90 leaves / The South African economy is unable to support the employment needs of the growing number of graduates. In an attempt to address these needs, the proposed study focuses on the development of an incubator system to nurture young entrepreneurs (graduates), until they are able to survive independently – usually in two to three years.

Master's thesis: Victorian era fashion theoretical and practical source of inspiration. Theoretical part of thesis explores fashion in 19 th century in UK in the context of contemporary facts. Thesis describes a development in particular parts of women's clothing which reflects former spirit and culture. In the next chapter is discussed how Victorian England has inspired nowadays fashion and its impact on modern subcultures. There are additionally added images for deeper understanding of this complex phenomena. Practical part of the thesis consists of development of ball jointed doll which was inspired by Victorian fashion. In addition, it includes sketches and workflow with visualization.

The clothing industry is multifaceted and is characterised by garments with a short life cycle, unstable customer needs and varying fashion styles. This affects the accuracy of demand planning. In SA, the clothing industry has experienced a decline in the number of clothing manufacturers and manufacturing outputs as well as fluctuations in employment. This study investigates demand planning practices in the Gauteng clothing industry. A descriptive and exploratory study was conducted based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The structured data was descriptively analysed using SPSS and inferentially analysed using the Kruskal‒Wallis test as well as content analysis for the unstructured questions. The findings revealed that demand planning practices in the Gauteng clothing industry are conducted using the hierarchical and optimal demand planning approaches. The results also revealed that there are certain factors which affect the way demand planning is conducted in the clothing industry in Gauteng. These factors includes: scheduling, fashion clothes, point of sale system, imports, estimation, recession and lead time. Furthermore, the study revealed that there are differences in the factors affecting demand planning regarding the three key clothing stakeholders (fabric suppliers, clothing manufacturers and fashion designers). The study revealed that key demand planning practices employed in the Gauteng clothing industry are production planning, uncertainty prevention, forecasting and production machine capabilities. These practices are important attributes of the hierarchical and optimal demand planning approaches. The study recommends that the hierarchical demand planning approach is more effective when planning for basic clothes (which involved planning horizon of twelve months), while the optimal demand planning approach is effective when planning for fashion clothes (which involved planning horizon of six months). The study recommends that the Gauteng clothing industry should consider factors which affect demand planning when planning for customers' needs as they affect the level of productivity in the organisation. / Entrepreneurship Supply Chain Transport Tourism and Logistics Management / M. Com.(Logistics)

The increase of trading has created many environmental, ecological, social and ethical problems. The main concern across all industries is to create more sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing processes. Only by influence consumer's purchasing behavior there might be the demand for eco-green products. The fashion and textile industry as one of the main contributor to the world's economy is one of the main environmental polluter (e.g.: soil, lakes, river and air). Recently, many young fashion designers started to offer eco-green fashion to the market. This new phenomenon might change the course of the world fashion industry. The goal of this research is to find out the real demand for eco-green products and its impacts on the traditional methods of fashion manufacturing. Three geographical areas where chosen to represent consumption side (US and EU (UK)) and manufacturing side (China). The specific fashion garment was chosen to demonstrate detailed analysis of the manufacturing processes and its new eco-green formula -- the denim jeans. The primary and secondary research approaches were chosen to cover the whole industrial view on this phenomenon. The outcome of the research showed that the major impact was on the general consumer's purchasing behavior and their life style. It is a new trend and concept that is reshaping the traditional fashion business models. Denim jeans industry leaders such as Levi's Strauss are in process of implementing eco-green, ethical and fair-trade factors into their long-term strategy.