Localising Global Approaches to Improve Clothing, Textile, and Apparel Industry Standards in Kenya: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The Clothing, Textile, and Apparel (CTA) industry has witnessed significant growth in East Africa, making it one of the best in current job creation and future employment projections. Global leaders in CTA, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, and Italy have invested in training and capacity development to create sustainability in the CTA industry. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there is significant investment in CTA courses in universities in countries such as South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt. In Kenya, CTA training has previously been overlooked with less investment in the industry since the late 1980s. This paper explores the literature on CTA training methods in countries with large performing CTA industries and their applicability in Kenya to increase the pace of growth of the industry. A systematic literature review is applied in this study through desk research methods. The study was conducted in Nairobi Kenya as part of a continuing doctorate study programme. Its subjects were fashion designers spread and sampled in the countries mentioned above. From the study, it emerged that critical application of CTA training and knowledge transfer methods in countries with advanced industries through a situated learning approach can improve the industry in Kenya. However, this localization should aim at removing the barriers in the CTA industry, creating a sustainable linkage between academia and industry, improving syllabus design, delivery, and progression, and skills exchange programs. Aptly, the recommendation in the study is improving the research into CTA training and knowledge transfer in countries with advanced industries and applying the knowledge to the local industry through sufficient localization of the training and knowledge transfer.