Traditional garments are not merely clothes; they are objects transmitting our stories and the expertise of skilled artisans. Tradition is also passed down in the creation and construction of our clothes, and the way artefacts, like clothes, are made, including the materials and the processes, are all embedded into our communities and cultures. In South Africa, consumers obtain personalised garments, such as traditional dress, from informal clothing manufacturing micro-enterprises (CMMEs). These CMMEs cater to local customers’ needs, providing them with individual and exclusive garments. However, little is known about how informal CMMEs design and develop apparel for their customers.

Higher education institutions have an ever-increasing role to play in the creative economy of South Africa. The relationship between higher education institutions and the creative economy manifests through the skills, training, and knowledge transferred to students, thereby supporting this economy through job creation, addressing Sustainable Development Goal 8. The local fashion industry is a creative industry of which the custom-made fashion designer is essential. These designers offer locally made traditional and culturally specific custom-made garments to customers in South Africa that communicate the culturally significant heritage of their wearer.