EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL-SCALE FASHION INDUSTRY IN KWARA STATE

Abstract

The fashion industries have been hit by the Covid 19 pandemic. This made small-scale fashion businesses find it difficult to achieve their targeted profit benchmark due to the incessant market prices of inputs. The pandemic weakened small scale enterprises across Nigeria during the outbreak, which brought several challenges to their operations. This study examined the effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Performance of Small-Scale Fashion Industry in Kwara State. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study is 600 registered fashion businesses that duly registered with National Association of Fashion Industry in Nigeria (Kwara State Chapter). Researchers Advisers Table was used to get 234 copies of questionnaire, which were administered to the respondents. Multiple Regression was used to test the hypotheses, findings show that p-value of 0.37 (which is less than 0.010) reveals that social distancing has significant effect on profitability of small-scale enterprises in Kwara State. With a p-value of 0.004 (which is less than 0.010), lock down has no significant effect on the business expansion of small-scale enterprises in Kwara State. The study concluded that fashion designers should change their business strategy because of the Covid 19 pandemic. The fashion design business has started picking up after the Covid 19 pandemic more than before its emergence. The study recommended that they need to change their business strategy to adapt after the post Covid 19 pandemic. Fashion designers need to use digital platforms for their business sustainability.