NCRF: Summer merchandise 'a worry'

Cape Town, W Cape, SA – Different lockdown levels in different parts of the country from the end of May, "could lead to some really odd situations", National Clothing Retail Federation of SA executive director Michael Lawrence said on Friday. "However, [the National Corivavirus Command Council] has given itself more time, this time, to make arrangements."
       He said in recommending products to be added to the list that retailers may sell, the NCRF did its own surveys. Now pushing for the inclusion of other leather products like handbags and wallets, he said: "The demand is there. It wasn't an urgent demand, like children's wear, but it's definitely there, and we now want it included, and we've had a lot of support from [trade union] NULAW in our request."
       He said what concerned the NCRF most was summer merchandise. "Importing summer clothing isn't yet allowed. If the government thinks that by postponing imports, local manufacturers will be able to fill the void, that isn't feasible. Only 20% of the yarns, and 20% of the fabric used to make clothing in South Africa are locally sourced, and no more than 30% of the clothing sold by retail is locally sourced.
       "It will take 4 to 12 weeks to get local factories ready to make summer clothing, and we have no idea what consumer demand will be. I don't believe there will be very high demand for high fashion and high margin clothing, because going to church, eating out and clubbing are all still prohibited, and we don't know how long that will last."