On the wall of the Sleek Garments factory in Ghana, overlooking a bustling assembly line of 300 workers, is a sign that says "Quality First, Quantity Second."
Nora Bannerman, Sleek’s founder and chief executive, was determined to maintain that philosophy as the company shifted into mass production, sewing thousands of shirts bound for large U.S. discount clothing retailer Ross Stores.
Sleek’s emphasis on quality convinced a buyer’s agent to place Ross's order for 75,000 casual rayon shirts. The agent had heard of Sleek from another garment factory, which, along with Sleek, is part of Ghana’s blooming apparel-manufacturing cluster.
Incentives offered by Ghana’s government have encouraged the relocation and building of several clothing factories, many exporting duty-free to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The law waives duties on select goods from eligible African countries.
"We are putting Ghana on the radar as an exporter under AGOA of high-quality garments," Bannerman said.
In 2002, Bannerman’s fashion shop produced its then largest order -- 10,000 garments -- qualifying it to participate in Ghana’s apparel initiative. That program provided access to loan guarantees for equipment acquisition, training and a production site in a trade zone that waives import taxes as long as companies export at least 80 percent of their output.
Bannerman also received support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) West Africa Trade Hub, which conducts industry-specific training and accompanies clients to major trade shows in the United States to facilitate business links.
The trade hub provided Bannerman with financial planning services and advice as she sought financing to purchase fabric for the Ross order. Bannerman then negotiated another large order with a U.S. uniform company and planned to triple her work force over the next few years.
"I dream of brands coming out of Ghana, supplying African markets as well as the huge U.S. market," Bannerman said. "Everything is possible in this industry."
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