HOW CAPE UNION MART'S GREEN THREAD STUDIO IS REVITALISING THE CITY'S CLOTHING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Green Thread Studio, the design and production wing of the Cape Union Mart Group, is breathing new life into the city’s once beleaguered clothing manufacturing industry.

Launched in 2022 with a goal to produce 65% of products locally by 2030, the studio is a creative hub and a centre facilitating the growth of local clothing design and production.

The studio designs and produces for Cape Union Mart’s popular clothing brands, including Keedo, Poetry and Old Khaki. Its establishment has thus far created nearly 300 jobs in manufacturing and design.

There’s a sense of rejuvenation in the industry, says Carlien van der Vyver, Green Thread’s head of manufacturing, and previously the chief operations officer (COO) of Keedo International.

“It’s an extremely exciting time for clothing manufacturing. I’ve been part of the Keedo Group for 26 years. When I was given the opportunity to be part of Cape Union Mart’s sustainability and growth in local manufacturing initiative, I grabbed it with both hands,” said Van der Vyver.

“As a business, we have doubled the number of staff at our Paarden Eiland factory in a year. We’ve also opened a training school because we believe that through uplifting the amazing talent in our industry, we are able to really make a difference. According to the stats, every person employed here feeds approximately eight people. By employing 360 people, we support nearly 10 times as many people. By the end of 2023, we hope to have another facility that will also manufacture locally, which will double our staff complement.”

The Green Thread manufacturing training academy opened at the company’s manufacturing facility in Paarden Eiland in April 2022.

“We’ve taken in team members that cannot sew at all,” said Van der Vyver. “We have a lot of young interns and students who want to be fashion designers, which is amazing, but we start off by teaching them the basics – how to make a product, because if you understand the makeup of it, you’ll be an expert designer.”

Through our training programme, we take people from not being able to put on a sewing machine to being a master machinists within six months. For an industry that has been stagnant for a very long time with very little investment, it creates endless possibilities.

According to Van der Vyver, the Green Thread philosophy is about upliftment and growth.

“Cape Town is the hub of clothing manufacturing on the continent. Through our training programme, we are able to upskill new talent with the aim of creating employment for these individuals.”

Read: How Cape Union Mart is threading a new path for fashion

About living, working and doing business in Cape Town, Van der Vyver said: “There is no better city in the world.”

“I love Cape Town. Our people, and the diversity of cultures, make us unique. Other than the professionalism and talent, it is also a beautiful lifestyle city. You can go from the ocean, to the mountains, to vineyards – all within one day. I simply love it!”