The 77-year-old business was formed after founder Frank Hamilton Cowie bought an outfit called Myers Brothers, which traded mainly in jewellery. Fifty years ago, the company's focus changed from jewellery to fabrics - this turned out to be a wise decision
The present Border Kei Chamber of Commerce's executive director, Les Holbrook, says the secret to Cowie Trading's success is its mix of imported and South African-made products that are in high demand. Cowie Trading is one of the oldest members of the Chamber, having joined what was then the East London Chamber in 1935. Cowie Trading's core business for the past 50 years has been supplying original Shweshwe, which is South Africa's top-selling fabric. Shweshwe is manufactured at a factory in Zwelitsha outside King William's Town. The fabric, which has a calico-like texture, and comes in myriad designs, is manufactured using a unique discharge printing method that creates the characteristic white patterns on the coloured material.
Cowie's grandson Neil joined the family business in 1983 after completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree, he now owns it. The firm, a wholesaler and a retailer, supplies fabric shops throughout southern Africa. What makes this family business even more remarkable is that it has survived the dreadful pinch the South African textiles industry has undergone in the past two decades. "There used to be 23 fabric wholesalers in East London," Neil tells Independent Online. "Now there are only two. We've had a steady demand for Shweshwe over the years. In 2010 there was a slight dip because of the economy, but in 2011 we were back to normal," Neil says.
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