Mayco Member for Economic Growth James Vos cut the ribbon at the opening of Ivilitex yesterday, a new high-tech clothing and textile manufacturing facility in Epping.The garment manufacturer is a division of the Ivili Group, a South African women-owned company that is aiming to lead the charge towards increasing locally produced apparel from the current 44% to 65% by 2030.
‘To see them take this massive step forward, both for themselves and for the clothing and textile manufacturing sector at large, is gratifying and an example of the power of networking opportunities.’Ivilitex’s initial production will consist of jeanswear for the local retailer market and will make use of state-of-the-art technology that will allow for the production and washing of garments with optimum levels of output and efficiency while maintaining the lowest impact on the environment.
Vos said that Cape Town is home to a colourful patchwork of clothing and textile companies and that the industry was a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the metro and province. ‘Research by the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster – a Special Purpose Vehicle that the City proudly funds and works with to foster sectoral skills development and investments – has found that at least 20 000 jobs can be created in this industry in the Mother City alone.’