Abstract

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This paper examines the garment engineering industry in Lagos, Nigeria, highlighting its role as a source of employment, income, and foreign exchange. However, the industry faces challenges due to the increasing demand for short-lived, trendy clothing driven by technological advancements and changing social norms. The study focuses on how garment producers’ socio-cultural values and economic motivations influence product development within the industry. Conducted in ten urban areas of Lagos, the research involved 847 producers and employed a mix of data collection methods, including interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. The study found that while producers are mostly well-educated women (66.7%) entering the field due to financial reasons, their skills and access to resources limit product development. Despite moderate knowledge and some informal training, expensive equipment and materials hinder innovation. Interestingly, social and economic factors like communication and business models significantly influence success. The findings suggest an average level of product development performance within the Lagos garment engineering industry. The study recommends making resources more affordable and establishing a government-supported training center to improve the industry’s overall performance.

Keywords: Product development, garment engineering, textilis, urbanized, socio-cultural