Zimbabwe's clothing industry continues to deteriorate due to high costs of production, antiquated machinery and the influx of cheap clothing and fabrics. Sustained erosion of incomes has forced Zimbabweans to resort to cheap imports, including second hand clothes.

There are 64 million tons of second hand clothes from overseas waiting to be dumped in Africa. The industry wants a ban on cheap clothing imports, which would cushion it from unfair competition. The textile and clothing subsectors play a major role in Zimbabwe. They provide vital commodities such as shirts, trousers, suits, dresses, hats, stockings, underwear, blankets and towels.

There are concerns revenue officials are working in cahoots with cartels involved in the smuggling of goods into the country. Cotton production has been falling in Zimbabwe over the years, forcing farmers to resort to cash crops. Tumbling cotton prices have made it unattractive in comparison with other cash crops such as tobacco. At its peak in 2012, cotton production by small scale farmers was at 660 million bales.

The period 2000 to 2010 was the most difficult for the textile and clothing sectors. A number of companies closed and a number of people employed by this sector lost their jobs.