Clothing in Mauritius

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Clothing production is an important industry in Mauritius. Clothes are imported and exported in Mauritius. The clothing sector was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2008, but recovered. [1] The sector employed 67,174 people in 2007 and made 1.45 billion dollars in revenue that same year. [1]

Contents

History

Clothing and textile industry in Mauritius started in the 1970s, when foreign investors (mainly coming from Hong Kong) started setting up firms which would assemble imported textiles into clothing; most of those activities happed in the export processing zones (EPZs). [2] :182 Europe and the United States are the traditional export markets of Mauritius; preferential trading deals with partners such as the European Union and the United States in some economic sectors, such as the sugar industry and in textile and clothing sectors, resulted in the significant growth of the total exports of Mauritius, especially from the 1970s to the 1990s. [3] :253

1970s

Sir Edouard Lim Fat, a Sino-Mauritian born in 1921, is generally acknowledged as the creator of the Mauritius Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in 1970. [4] The structure of Mauritius EPZ was modelled based on the EPZs found in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and others, and it was based on manufacturing for exports only. [4] In the first few months, there were 5 factories set in the EPZ with more than 500 employees; the original and majority of the textile or apparel stakeholders were from Hong Kong. [4]

In the early 1970s, significant investors in the Mauritian EPZ were from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, who contributed to the high growth rate during the early 1970s. [5] :102 The results of the influx of foreign direct investment was the benefits of Mauritius' transnational ethnic networks, especially the small Chinese community in Mauritius (Sino-Mauritians) who played a significant role in attracting foreign direct investment from Hong Kong. [6] :51–52 People from the Hong Kong textile industry came to Mauritius and introduced apparel and textile machinery with them. [4] During that time, Mauritius had the labour capacity, and Mauritian women preferred working in the factory instead of working on the sugar plantations due to the lower working hours (8 hours in factory instead of 12 hours on the sugar plantation) and the higher pay (3-5 rupees per day in factory work instead of 2-2.5 rupees per day on sugar plantation). [4]

In 1973, 23% companies under the Mauritius EPZ were textile-apparel companies; these were Vettex Limited, Floreal Knitwear, Textiles Industries Limited, Compagnie Mauricienne Commerciale (CMT), and Orkay Synthetics. [4]

In 1975, Mauritius signed the Lomé convention and was given preferential access to European markets leading to a duty-free agreement where no duty had to be paid if Mauritian goods were imported in Europe; this duty-free agreement attracted foreign investors to Mauritius. [4] While the first half of the 1970s showed fast development for Mauritius export companies, the latter 1970s showed no growth in the textile-apparel industry due to political and economic factors, which include firms having to acknowledge world finances, oil crisis, and the need for public transportation development in Mauritius, among many others. [4]

1980s

In the 1980s, many Hong Kong companies left Mauritius leaving equipment and trained Mauritian labour behind as they realized that they could keep their assets in China. Therefore, local Mauritian investors continued and developed new textile and clothing firms; textile and apparel production increased in Mauritius due to a civil war in Sri Lanka. [4]

1990s

In the 1990s, many Hong Kong investors had to relocate their business to Vietnam and China due to lower production and labour cost; this lead more local investors to invest in the Mauritian textile and apparel industry. The textiles and clothing industry in Mauritius reached its employment peak in 1999 and had to outsource in Madagascar where the labour force was cheaper; the Mauritian factory labourers however decided to shift to the newly formed tourism industry and foreign labourers from Sri Lanka, India, and China had to be brought in the country. [4]

2000s

The beginning of the 2000s were challenging to the Mauritian and textile industry: the Lomé agreement was ended but was replaced by the COTONOU Agreement which was signed in 2000; this agreement allowed the continuation of trade benefits between African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries and the European Union. [4] In 2000, Mauritius was excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (which allowed duty free garments to the United States) and was only included in 2006. [4]

Since the 2000 FOCAC Ministerial Conference agreement, China took third position (following France and India) in terms of traditional source of imports in Mauritius. [3] :253 Imports of textiles machinery and equipment, along with manufactured consumer goods, became bulk of imports from China. [3] :253 By investing in local spinning capacity, Mauritius reduced its dependence on Chinese yarn and textile imports, which lead to a reduction in textile imports from China. [3] :253

In 2003, most of Mauritius apparel production was moved to Madagascar as labour was too expensive in Mauritius. All the Hong Kong companies left Mauritius and gave their facilities to the Mauritians. [4] The items manufactured in Mauritius however became stagnant and low quality. [4]

From 2004 to 2007, Mauritian exports to the US decreased by 49%. [4]

Fashion in Mauritius

Fashion in Mauritius is also influenced by the vague formality-related rules, personal preference, difference between urban and rural lifestyle, and by the diverse origins of the Mauritian population, including ethno-religious identity. [7] Mauritius of all background wears bright colours, especially Mauritian women. [7]

Flip-flops (locally known as 'savat') are worn by all Mauritian regardless of their cultural background, which are suitable for the Mauritian climate. [7] Beachwear and tight/revealing clothing is acceptable in many resorts but they are not considered appropriate in towns and villages. [7]

Western-style clothing

Western-style clothing is worn by the majority of Mauritian population in their everyday life; however, the fashion is influenced by the diverse origins of the population. [7] Most Mauritian men have 1 or 2 suits, which are worn on special occasions. [8] :249

Ethnic clothing

Creole dress/ Sega dress

Creole dress (Sega dress) traditionally worn by female Sega dancers is composed of bright blouses and long skirts while men typically wear rolled-up trousers, straw hats, and colourful shirts. [7] [9] Sega dancers dress often display colourful patterns. [7] Sega clothing appears to be related to the dressing of their ancestors. [9]

Mauritian of Indian Origins

The Sari is a traditional dress for Mauritian of Indian origins. [7] Some traditional Indo-Mauritians wear Dhoti Kurta while others mixed the Dhoti Kurta with a Western-style shirt. Bright jewelry is commonly worn among Indo-Mauritian women, especially for those who reside in rural areas. [7] Devout Hindus, especially rural women, often wear tika on the forehead and henna in their hair to show their marriage status. [7]

Muslim clothing

Muslims from diverse social background and coming from diverse regions of India settled in Mauritius in Colonial Mauritius. [10] :61The traditional women clothing among the muslim population is Indian clothing of various styles (dress, trousers, shirts, orhni (a matching veil which covers the head and shoulder areas), and sometimes sari). [10] :78 A large proportion of muslim women have adopted the hijab and wear it together with either Western-style or Indian clothing. [10] :78 Burqa is worn by a minority of muslim women. [7] Muslim men may be found wearing cloth skullcaps or a fez on important religious events. [7]

Mauritian of Chinese Origins

The Mandarin gown is a traditional dress for Mauritian of Chinese origins. [7]

Work and School attire culture

Work attire culture

In a white-collar work setting, men's attire can be informal but they should not be casual; they are typically expected to wear long-sleeved shirt and well-cut trousers instead of jeans. [8] :249 There is no restriction on colour; however, white and pale blue are preferred for upper garments while trousers are typically found in dark colours; shoes are always dark in colour. [8] :249

Women has more freedom of choice than men. A common form of working attire for women is a plain dark skirt (red skirt is however accepted) with a blouse in a pastel colour. [8] :249 Printed dresses with a simple classic cut is also appropriate. [8] :249 Women can also wear trousers. [8] :249 Some traditional dresses such as the Indian sari can also be worn. [8] :249 The cheongsam is however not accepted due to its kinky image and therefore do not reflect the image of a serious business woman. [8] :249

Both men and women are allowed to wear discreet jewelleries; men usually wear a watch, a wedding or signet ring, and sometimes a crucifix on a small chain. Women are allowed to wear earrings and bracelets. [8] :249

School Uniforms culture

In Mauritius, school uniforms are typically compulsory from the primary school to the higher secondary level; the use of uniforms at school date back to the British colonial period. [11] Very few private schools which are based on a French education system do not require school uniforms. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Mauritius</span>

The economy of Mauritius is a mixed developing economy based on agriculture, exports, financial services, and tourism. Since the 1980s, the government of Mauritius has sought to diversify the country's economy beyond its dependence on just agriculture, particularly sugar production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing</span> Objects worn to cover a portion of the body

Clothing is any item worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural products found in the environment, put together. The wearing of clothing is mostly restricted to human beings and is a feature of all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn depends on gender, body type, social factors, and geographic considerations. Garments cover the body, footwear covers the feet, gloves cover the hands, while hats and headgear cover the head, and underwear covers the private parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese clothing</span> Japanese clothing, traditional and modern


Traditional Japanese fashion represents a long-standing history of traditional culture, encompassing colour palettes developed in the Heian period, silhouettes adopted from Tang dynasty clothing and cultural traditions, motifs taken from Japanese culture, nature and traditional literature, the use of types of silk for some clothing, and styles of wearing primarily fully-developed by the end of the Edo period. The most well-known form of traditional Japanese fashion is the kimono, with the term kimono translating literally as "something to wear" or "thing worn on the shoulders". Other types of traditional fashion include the clothing of the Ainu people and the clothes of the Ryukyuan people which is known most notably including the traditional fabrics of bingata and bashōfu produced on the Ryukyu Islands.

<i>Cheongsam</i> Fitted dress in Chinese culture

Cheongsam or zansae, also known as the qipao and sometimes referred to as the mandarin gown, is a Chinese dress worn by women which takes inspiration from the qizhuang, the ethnic clothing of the Manchu people. The cheongsam is most often seen as a longer, figure-fitting, one piece garment with a standing collar, an asymmetric, left-over-right opening and two side slits, and embellished with Chinese frog fasteners on the lapel and the collar. It was developed in the 1920s and evolved in shapes and design over years. It was popular in China from the 1920s to 1960s, overlapping with the Republican era, and was popularized by Chinese socialites and high society women in Shanghai. Although the cheongsam is sometimes seen as traditional Chinese clothing, the cheongsam continues to evolve with times as it responds to the contemporary modern life.

<i>Kurta</i> Various forms of loose and long shirts or tunics worn traditionally in South Asia

A kurta is a loose collarless shirt or tunic worn in many regions of South Asia, and now also worn around the world. Tracing its roots to Central Asian nomadic tunics, or upper body garments, of the late-ancient- or early-medieval era, the kurta has evolved stylistically over the centuries, especially in South Asia, as a garment for everyday wear as well as for formal occasions.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian cultural outfits</span> Malaysian clothing

Pakaian is the term for clothing in Malaysia's national language. It is referring to things to wear such as shirts, pants, shoes etc. Since Malaysia is a multicultural nation: Malay, Chinese, Indian and hundreds of other indigenous groups of Malay Peninsula and Borneo, each has its own traditional and religious articles of clothing all of which are gender-specific and may be adapted to local influences and conditions. Previously, traditional clothes were worn daily. However, by excluding Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung many are now only worn on special occasions such as marriage ceremonies and cultural events.

Pakistani clothing refers to the ethnic clothing that is typically worn by people in the country of Pakistan and by Pakistanis. Pakistani clothes express the culture of Pakistan, the demographics of Pakistan, and cultures from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir regions of the country. The clothing in each region and culture of Pakistan reflect weather conditions, way of living, the textiles and embroidery used and its distinctive style which gives it a unique identity among all cultures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shalwar kameez</span> Trousers and tunic worn in South Asia

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<i>Hanfu</i> Traditional dress of the Han Chinese people

Hanfu are the traditional styles of clothing worn by the Han Chinese. There are several representative styles of hanfu, such as the ruqun, the aoqun, the beizi and the shenyi, and the shanku.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing industry</span> Industry encompassing the design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of clothes

Clothing industry or garment industry summarizes the types of trade and industry along the production and value chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile industry, embellishment using embroidery, via the fashion industry to apparel retailers up to trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. The producing sectors build upon a wealth of clothing technology some of which, like the loom, the cotton gin, and the sewing machine heralded industrialization not only of the previous textile manufacturing practices. Clothing industries are also known as allied industries, fashion industries, garment industries, or soft goods industries.

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Clothing in Myanmar varies depending on the ethnicity, geography, climate and cultural traditions of the people of each region of Myanmar (Burma). The most widely recognized Burmese national costume is the longyi, which is worn by both males and females nationwide. Burmese clothing also features great diversity in terms of textiles, weaves, fibers, colours and materials, including velvet, silk, lace, muslin, and cotton.

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The fashion industry in Nigeria plays an important cultural role and contributes significantly to the country's economy. Clothing incorporates a variety of colours, fabrics, and embellishments. Many of the component cultures of Nigeria wear styles that are characteristic of their tribal society and customs. Nigeria produces fashionable textiles and finished garments and has designers who have achieved international recognition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanku</span> Chinese outfit composed of a top and trousers

Shanku is a generic term which refers to a two-piece set of attire in Hanfu, which is typically composed of a youren yi, a Chinese upper garment which typically overlaps and closes on the right side which could be called shan, ru, ao, and a pair of long trousers ku. As a form of daily attire, the shanku was mainly worn by people from lower social status in China, such as labourers, shopkeepers, or retainers from wealthy household. The shanku was originally worn by both genders. Up until the mid-20th century, it was popular in China and outside of China where it was worn by overseas Chinese in countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Suriname, etc. It is still worn in present-day China and can be found in rural areas.

<i>Hufu</i> Generic term for non-Han Chinese clothing

Hufu, also referred as Hu clothing, nomadic dress, 'barbarian' clothing or dress, or foreign dress, is a generic term which refers to any clothing which was worn in ancient China and its surrounding regions by non-Han Chinese people. This term is also used to refer to clothing of foreign origins in ancient China. The introduction of Hufu-style garments and attire in China occurred by the time of King Wuling of Zhao.

<i>Ryusou</i> Traditional clothing of Okinawans

Ucinaasugai, also known as Ryusou and referred as ushinchi in Okinawan, is the traditional dress of the Ryukyuan people. Ryusou is a form of formal attire; it is customary to wear it on occasions such as wedding ceremony and the coming-of-age ceremony. The ryusou became popular during the Ryukyu Kingdom period. It was originally worn by the members of the royal family and by the nobles of Ryukyu Kingdom. The Ryukyu Kingdom was originally an independent nation which established trade relationship with many countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia; they held their relationship with China as especially important. The development of the ryusou was influenced by both the hanfu and the kimono, demonstrating a combination of Chinese and Japanese influences along with local originality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bazin (fabric)</span> Type of fabric

Bazin is a West African fabric with its origin in Mali, made from hand-dyed cotton, resulting in a damask textile known for its stiffness and vibrant sheen. It is primarily recognized as the most commonly used fabric for crafting a Boubou, a long, loose traditional outerwear worn by both men and women, particularly in West Africa. Another popular name for this fabric, especially among Hausa speakers, is Shadda.

References

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