Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA), Abdul Aziz Ali, is calling for stronger collaboration between the fashion industry and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to improve quality, finishing and professional standards within Ghana’s fashion sector.
The initiative is aimed at helping tailors, dressmakers and fashion designers understand and apply appropriate standards in their work, particularly in areas such as garment construction, measurements, finishing and quality control.
According to Abdul Aziz Ali, the collaboration with the standards body is intended to provide fashion practitioners with practical knowledge that can help them improve the quality of their products and compete more effectively in both local and international markets.
GNTDA Seeks Standards Training for Fashion Practitioners
Abdul Aziz Ali has called for the Ghana Standards Authority to engage members of the association through workshops and training programmes focused on standards within the textile and garment industry.
The objective is to give practitioners a clearer understanding of what constitutes quality production and how standards can be incorporated into their everyday work.
Such training can be particularly useful for apprentices and young fashion professionals who are still developing their technical and professional skills.
The GSA’s mandate includes developing, publishing and promoting standards, as well as providing training and sensitisation to industry. Its standards work covers textiles and garments, including specifications and guidelines relevant to clothing production.
Improving Finishing and Quality
One reason for the proposed collaboration is the need to continuously improve the finishing of locally made garments.
Finishing can influence how a garment looks, fits, and performs after production. Areas such as stitching, measurements, seams, pressing, durability and overall presentation can contribute to the quality of a finished product.
The goal of the proposed engagement is therefore not simply to teach fashion practitioners how to sew, but to help them understand how consistent standards can be applied throughout the production process.
Learning From Established Standards
Ghana already has standards covering aspects of textile and garment production.
For example, GS 1395:2024 – Code of Practice for Textiles, Garment and Leather Manufacturing provides general principles and guidelines for production in the textiles, garments and leather manufacturing industries. The Ghana Standards Authority says applying the standard can support quality, consistency, consumer safety and competitiveness.
The GSA also identifies standards relating to garment manufacturing, body measurements, men’s shirts, men’s trousers and other textile and garment products.
Making such standards better understood by fashion practitioners could help bridge the gap between technical training and professional production requirements.
Preparing Ghanaian Fashion for Wider Markets
Abdul Aziz Ali’s initiative also focuses on the competitiveness of Ghana’s fashion industry.
As Ghanaian designers increasingly seek customers beyond their immediate communities, maintaining consistent quality can become important for building customer confidence and accessing wider markets.
Standards can provide businesses with clearer requirements and help improve consistency in production. The GSA notes that standards can help businesses improve quality and reliability, build consumer confidence and open access to new markets.
For Ghanaian fashion businesses, this means that improving production standards can be part of building stronger and more competitive brands.
Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement
The proposed partnership also highlights the importance of continuous learning within the fashion profession.
Fashion trends change, technology develops and customer expectations evolve. Tailors and dressmakers therefore need opportunities to update their knowledge even after completing their apprenticeship training.
Workshops conducted with technical institutions and standards organizations can give practitioners opportunities to learn new approaches and identify areas where their businesses can improve.
Supporting Apprentices and the Next Generation
The benefits of standards education can also extend to apprentices.
Young people currently learning tailoring and dressmaking can be introduced to professional quality requirements early in their training. This can help them develop good habits before they establish their own businesses.
For GNTDA, strengthening the connection between apprenticeship training and professional standards could contribute to developing a new generation of fashion practitioners who understand both creativity and quality control.
A Step Towards a Stronger Ghanaian Fashion Industry
The proposed collaboration between GNTDA and the Ghana Standards Authority represents an effort to connect the fashion industry’s practical experience with professional standards and technical knowledge.
Abdul Aziz Ali’s call for workshops and engagement is focused on giving fashion practitioners the tools and information they need to improve their work.
Rather than viewing standards as only a regulatory requirement, the initiative presents them as a possible resource for improving quality, building customer confidence and strengthening Ghanaian fashion businesses.
Ghana Vogue Event
Ghana Vogue Event will continue to highlight initiatives aimed at improving Ghana’s fashion and garment industry.
The call by Abdul Aziz Ali, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GNTDA, for stronger engagement with the Ghana Standards Authority brings attention to an important part of the industry’s development: quality, consistency and professional standards.
With appropriate training and access to standards information, Ghanaian tailors, dressmakers, designers and apprentices can continue working to improve the quality and competitiveness of locally produced garments.
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