Some fashion designers in Nungua and Tema have expressed disappointment over low patronage of their services, which has dashed their expectations for a profitable Christmas period.
They said usually, the Christmas season was the time Ghanaians invest in stylish outfits for parties, family gatherings, and church services, noting, however, that this year’s sales had been extremely slow.
According to them, the current economic challenges in the country had left many people with limited budgets and opting for ready-made clothing or foregoing new outfits.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, they expressed the hope that there would be last-minute orders to boost their sales.
Mr Micheal Quaye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of M-KAY Stitches, Nungua, noted that the high cost of fabric and accessories and the cost of producing outfits prevented designers and clients from getting what they wanted.
“This time of year, is usually our busiest, with orders coming in as early as September. Now, customers are either delaying or cancelling their plans to sew new clothes. It’s been tough this year, and I am hoping there will be a miracle,” he said.
Some designers said they were finding innovative ways to stay in business by creating ready-to-wear collections that require less time and are less expensive.
Ms. Felicia Edem Kpodo, a designer, attributed the low sales to people buying less expensive ready-to-wear collections. Many prefer to shop online for clothes instead of visiting tailors, especially when they can get trendy outfits at lower prices.
“Times have changed, and we need to become more flexible. I have created simpler designs, and using more affordable materials, we are trying to make fashion accessible to everyone during these hard times, and although sales have been slow, it is far better because only a few have brought their materials to sew,” she said.
They, however, called on the government and industry stakeholders to support small businesses in the fashion sector, which plays a vital role in Ghana’s creative economy.
Mr. Kwabena Darko, a shoe dealer in Tema Community One, mentioned that children’s shoes for ages one to 15 years were highly purchased during the first week of December, adding, however, that sales had dropped during the past few days.
He mentioned that some people perceive that prices of items were increased during the festive season, so they buy items earlier before the festivities.
GNA
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