Towards economic sustainability: how higher education can support the business operations of emerging clothing manufacturing micro enterprises
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 23 April 2021
Issue publication date: 28 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the business operations of informal clothing manufacturing micro enterprises (CMMEs) and identifies ways to support owners to achieve economic sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach applying a case study design was used to study the business operations of 13 informal CMME owners at a business incubation hub (IH).
Findings
The study found that emerging CMME owners need ongoing generic business and fashion-related field-specific support particular to their business. Such support can be offered through the collaboration between higher education (HE) institutions and business IHs.
Social implications
Starting a clothing manufacturing business offers women in Africa the opportunity to improve both their personal and community well-being contributing to three sustainable development goals, namely, to end poverty, gender equality and empowering women, as well as sustainable consumption and production patterns. Partnering with existing business IHs, HE can influence skills-specific training that may contribute to the economic sustainability of emerging entrepreneurs and reduce poverty.
Originality/value
The study proposes in-house apparel apprenticeships to ensure the economic sustainability of the CMME, contributing to apparel entrepreneurship literature and fashion-based entrepreneurship education.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Higher education and the acceleration of the sustainable development goals in Africa”, guest edited by Rudi Pretorius and Melanie Nicolau.
Funded by the Academic Qualification Improvement Program of UNISA.
Citation
Strydom, M. and Kempen, E. (2021), "Towards economic sustainability: how higher education can support the business operations of emerging clothing manufacturing micro enterprises", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 1469-1486. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2020-0152
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited