Garment making
The importance of clothing to humanity has been fundamental, from time immemorial till now. In the first place, clothing helps to protect humanity against cold, dirt and diseases. It also enhances safety when people are engaged in hazardous activities, such as working and cooking, by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment. As it is in feeding, clothing provision in form of garments and other sundry clothing styles cannot be underestimated in human lives.
This strategic importance of clothing makes garment business, either its making or sale, one of the most lucrative ventures any person can go into. The reason is there is always a ready market for garments. The growth of the venture will, however, be determined by the expertise displayed in its making or the acumen brought to bear in its merchandising. The reason is that, apart from the primary functions that clothing performs, a range of other social and cultural functions, including individual, occupational, sexual or social class differentiation, are performed by the making of our clothing. It is the garment, which is described by experts in its simplistic form as the making of clothing into a satisfying mode of dress, that meets these others functions.
Clothing, in the manners of uniforms, helps to identify civil authority figures, including police and military personnel. It may also identify a team, a group or political affiliations. In many societies, norms about clothing reflect standards of modesty, religion, gender, and social status. In some cases, garment may also function as a form of adornment and an expression of personal taste or style. All these are daily engaged in, making the business of garment making an all-benefiting, all-involving and a sure business that will continue to be relevant, just it will be money-spinning.
The Managing Director, Emedian Ventures, Mr. Emmanuel Edward, says the business is a continuously lucrative one, depending on the level of expertise and creativity displayed by the maker.
He says setting up a garment making company a small scale level would require about N500,000, while about N10m may be needed to set up at a large scale level.
On the space required, he says about 20ft by 16ft space is needed for a small scale operation, while 120ft by 50ft is needed for a large scale operation.
According to him, the number of employees required is a function of the size of the business operations and the volume of work at hand. He says about six employees may be needed at a small scale level, while about thirty staff is needed to operate at a large scale level.
He says garment making business is very lucrative because garment or clothes are the only indispensable items that human beings all over the world make use of, right from birth till death comes calling.
He says, ”The state of garment making industry in Nigeria, with regard to mass production, can best be described as being under-utilized because with the population of Nigeria, the advantages are so many, yet we relegate this money-spinning industry to the background.”
According to him, the machines that are needed to make garments include industrial sewing machines such as straight sewing or single-needle machines and double needles machines. Others are over-lock, taping, button-hole, button-tacker, cutting machines, elasticator and bias cutter machines. He adds that their prices fluctuate in the market, due to inflation. However, he says the prices range from N35, 000 to N470, 000.
On the export potential, he says the potential has yet to be fully tapped, as demands for the products are very high in the market.
He says the business, especially its export potential, can be tapped if operators align with the government agencies that regulate the activities of garment manufacturers. According to him, such bodies that can help enhance the business profile include the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, which is in charge of exports; the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria; the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
According to him, the challenges facing the industry include epileptic power supply, importation of finished clothes into the country, high cost of machines and the closure of textile industries that could have manufactured quality fabrics at reduced cost.
He says, “Lack of government‘s presence in terms of proper regulation and dearth of political will in recognising this aspect of the economy as a great income earner are serious hindering factors.”
On the solution to the challenges facing then industry, he says stable supply of electricity supply will reduce the cost of maintaining alternative power supply, while high tariff should be placed on imported finished garments, as this will force the citizens to look inwards and appreciate made-in-Nigeria garments.
Speaking in the same vein, the Director-General, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Mr. Jaiyeola Olarewaju, also urges the government to address the challenge of poor power supply and the supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil for the industry.
He calls on the government to grant textile manufacturers tax holidays for five years, stop exportation of cotton and strengthen the Nigerian Customs Service to manage the borders, among other solutions.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/
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