PREFERENCE OF READY-MADE GARMENTS TO LOCALLY-MADE APPARELS AMONG FEMALE STAFF OF AKURE METROPOLIS

Abstract

This paper examined the preference of ready-made garments to locally made garments amongst female staff in Akure metropolis of Ondo State. Four research questions guided the study. The study employed the use of descriptive survey research design. The Convenience technique was used to choose female staff that constituted the sample size of one hundred and sixty-four (164) respondents from the total population of two hundred and seventy-seven (277) for the study. A 24-item questionnaire which was designed on a 4 point scale and titled “Preference of Ready –Made Garments to Locally Made Garments Questionnaire”(PRMGLMGQ), as instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts both in Clothing and Textiles and Home Economics from the Department of Home Economics. Data were analyzed descriptively using mean score at 2.50 rating and standard deviation. The result of the findings revealed that the only garment feature considered acceptable by respondents is design and aesthetic value (X =2.66) and the most preferred garments by female staff in Akure Metropolis are the ones with labels (X=2.54). The paper concluded that ready-made garments are thought of as possessing all the physical characteristics required for quality such as label, hence, female consumer are not often satisfied with locally-made garments. Consequently, from the findings, it was recommended that the government should enforce quality control programs on services rendered by local seamstresses, monitor apprenticeship programs and award of professional certificates to fashion designers and finally textile industry should be revitalized to produce high quality fabrics in order to encourage garment products to use high quality fabrics in the construction of garments.