Stitched for Success

STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

As we observe Women’s Month this August, it is an ideal time to recognise the visible contribution of women-led businesses to our economy. These enterprises, particularly in the clothing and textile and technology sectors, are driving economic growth, creating opportunity and uplifting communities in meaningful ways.

This was particularly evident during a recent visit to two women-led clothing businesses:

• ABC Clothing, based in Maitland and founded in 2023, is a boutique that empowers local seamstresses and tailors. Two years after opening, the business already employs 48 people.
• L&S Creations, established in 2005 in Athlone, is a dynamic supplier and manufacturing hub with 120 staff members.

Both businesses are now suppliers to several major South African clothing retailers.

The two enterprises participated in the Origin8 programme — a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to help SMEs learn to bridge critical business gaps, better align with industry standards, and meet customer expectations. It was facilitated by the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster (CCTC) and funded by the City.

Notably, ABC Clothing was awarded Fastest-Growing ‘Cut, Make, and Trim’ business at the recent CCTC Annual General Meeting awards ceremony.

These visits brought home the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives. Both businesses exemplify how women are shaping Cape Town’s clothing industry from the grassroots, providing income, building skills, and forging economic independence.

Women in tech are similarly leading the way with 55 female entrepreneurs supported in UVU Africa’s Women in Business programme during the 2024/2025 financial year. A further 69 women participated in the organisation’s Township Tech programme. Both are funded by the City.

In fact, Women in Business has empowered more than 2 000 female entrepreneurs in the last 25 years with essential technology tools and business support to foster growth and sustainability.

The clothing and technology sectors are vehicles for social change. By creating jobs, nurturing talent, and inspiring new generations of women to lead, these enterprises are contributing to the City’s inclusive and sustainable economic vision.

This Women’s Month, I echo the call for greater investment in female entrepreneurship. We must continue to expand access to support, mentorship, and market opportunities. That’s why the City remains committed to targeted programmes that assist women-owned enterprises to scale, export, and innovate.

Our partnerships with business chambers, incubators, and export partners also help amplify the visibility of women entrepreneurs in the global marketplace. Through our work with special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and sector support organisations, we ensure that women have a seat at the table in shaping the city’s economic future.

Let us use this month not only to celebrate the success of women in business but also to strengthen the mechanisms that enable them to thrive.

For more information on City support services for entrepreneurs, visit: www.investcapetown.com; www.capetown.gov.za/BusinessHub