The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 5 letter word RAG TRADE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
A
G
T
R
A
D
E
More clues leading to the result RAG TRADE
- Vogue includes upcoming spring fashion
- Shifting gear keeps career up in this industry
- A wearing sort of business
- Selling of clothes, classic in fashion
- Anger about charge going up in the fashion business
- Established in fashion, this industry?
- Bolt knocked over in anger in clothing business
- Industry needing tabloid deal?
- Vogue must carry traditional fashion business
- Art grade for modelling in fashion industry
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "A wearing sort of business" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a wearing sort of business = rag trade.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.