Abstract:
The fashion industry remains a vital component influencing countries Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and economic growth. Fashion has financial and social or emotional
rewards. The study sought to assess fashion design as a tool for socio-cultural and
economic development of Upper Manya Krobo District in Ghana. The study was
descriptive in nature. Questionnaires were used to solicit for data from 260 fashion
designers, tailors and dressmakers and 35 District Assembly officials from 13 major
towns in Upper Manya Krobo District. The study revealed that the fashion design
industry has helped increased the district assembly’s revenue through taxes and utility
bills, created jobs, reduced unemployment rate, raised the standard of living for
fashion designer and their families, and increased demand for raw materials for
fashion products in the community. The socio-cultural benefits of fashion design
include enhancement of celebration of festivals, decoration people for celebration of
life events like outdooring, marriage; helps preserve Ghanaian fashion, culture and
traditions; enhancement of one’s beauty and outlook; and also helps correct indecent
dressing and moral degradation among the youth. Fashion design can be improved in
Upper Manya Krobo District by enhancing access to capital and credit facilities;
increasing patronage for fashion products; reduction of income taxes, utility bills and
rent; opening up the local market to international market; and training and educational
support to improve fashion knowledge and skills, construction techniques for sewing,
and skill to create and make personal innovations.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of FASHION DESIGN AND TEXTILES,
Faculty of VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of Graduate
Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for award of the Master of Technology (Fashion Design and
Textiles Education) degree
