Formal Fashion Education and Business Performance: An Exploration of Small-scale Fashion Designers in Ghana
Ninette Afi Appiah
*
Department of Fashion Design and Textile Education, Akenten-Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana.
Joana Akweley Zanu
Department of Fashion Design Technology, Tamale Technical University, Ghana.
Adukwei Glover
Department of Fashion Design and Textile Education, Akenten-Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study explored the impact of formal fashion education on business performance among small-scale fashion designers in Ghana.
Study Design: This research adopted a survey design approach.
Methodology: Drawing upon Human Capital Theory (HCT) and using data collected from a survey of 398 small-scale fashion designers in Ghana, we employed a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationships between formal education, business size, and business performance.
Results: The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between formal education and business performance, suggesting that education plays a pivotal function in enhancing the performance of small-scale fashion designers. However, the study did not discover a significant relationship between formal education and business size, suggesting other factors, such as access to capital and market opportunities, may be critical for business expansion.
Conclusion: These findings have critical implications for policymakers, stakeholders, and industry practitioners in the fashion industry, particularly in Ghana.
Keywords: Business performance, fashion SMEs, formal fashion education, Ghana