Men’s suits, parachute silks and sewing threads are among the latest export success stories from South Africa’s fast burgeoning textile industry.

Latest figures released by the South African Department of Trade and Industry record that Sara Fibres now claims to be producing 80 per cent of the world’s apparel sewing thread requirements.

Gelvenor Textiles already supplies 50 per cent of the fabrics that go into the manufacture of parachutes. This season, however, Gelvenor says it is also receiving requests from clothing manufacturers worldwide.

Meanwhile, in the clothing market Monatic reports it has just distributed its millionth ready-to-wear suit to a customer based in the UK.