S & V Publications

Germiston, Gauteng, SA - We’re finding trade very tricky and not good at all. Prices have become so exorbitant, and you must downgrade all the time. But people aspire to better end merchandise and brands, so you lose that segment if you’re not careful. You can’t offer copies – they know what they want. To be a play ...more

Durban, KZN, SA - It’s challenging. We need better political leadership and there’s no sign of that.We’ve been in business rescue since November 2020. We were hurt before covid – by emigration, among other things. We’ve made slow progress since then, and we recently paid the first dividend to creditors.We&rsq ...more

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA - Jumbo Footwear group subsidiary Foothills Trading & Investment 2 (Pty) Ltd’s distribution agreement with Kangol ends on 31 December, Dionne Prinsloo of Allied Agencies confirmed on Friday.”We are currently in the process of winding down our involvement,” he wrote. “We have no idea wh ...more

Wolwehoek, Free State, SA - Midland Tannery, which processes hides from the vertically integrated Midland Group’s feedlots from raw to wet blue, wet white and finished leather, “is considering its options”, GM Rudie Nieuwoudt confirmed on Friday, in response to speculation about its future.He said a decision would be mad ...more

I was in Italy last week, sponsored by Assomac Servizi to attend the Simac/Tanning Tech fair, and technical reports will follow in the October issues of S&V African Leather and S&V Footwear & Leather Goods.My indelible memory of this trip isn’t of the fair, however. It is the apparent affirmation of the grumbles I’ ...more

Northampton, UK - A storm of protest over the probable closure of the University of Northampton’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (ICLT) is about to break, according to a informed source who has seen correspondence from various associations and graduates of the ICLT and its predecessor courses.The gist of the protests is ...more

New Germany, KZN, SA – In general, our business is up substantially, though I’m not sure where it’s coming from, because many of our customers have downsized their workforces, or even closed.I’ve tried to analyse it, and I think we’ve picked up new business since North closed. But I think the main reason is t ...more

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Business "has been showing a slight improvement", said Cedric Zoghby, with his brother Norman, a member of Atlantic Protective Clothing cc. "However, we are going into end-of-year mode, and orders are slowing down."      He said the year overall had been tough. ...more

Windhoek - "We're actually among the lucky firms," said sales representative Samantha Pieterse of PPE distributor J. Gerdes Uniwear. "A lot of companies have closed down, and business is a bit up and down, but overall we're trading quite well." Although the business doesn't carry facemasks, she said sourcing any forms ...more

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Horse riding is mostly an elite activity, and it comes with specialised requirements – it’s not an industry you stumble into by chance.Not usually, anyway.In 2014, former Zimbabwean Pardon Gwenzi was running a bar at a golf club in Greenpoint, and with the cold Cape winter approaching, he and his ...more

A series on successful South African footwear and leather goods exporters. Sponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC).A South African delegation returned to Japan’s Fashion World Tokyo trade fair from 10-12 October, for the first time post-covid. Described as ‘Japan’s largest international fashion ...more

In the ever-evolving world of fashion and footwear, Birkenstock has emerged as a true titan, boasting a performance that commands attention. The company sold a staggering 30 million units, amassing an impressive €1.243 billion in sales. While these numbers alone are enough to turn heads, the real story lies in the fact that Birkensto ...more

Major trends include smaller numbers of more skilled staff, or shifting staff to new areas of income generation. ...more

On Friday 22 September 2023, I was admitted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Curriers. The admittance took place at Tallow Chandlers Hall and was followed by a Michaelmas Court Dinner, where I also delivered the after dinner address.The Curriers’ Company is one of the oldest livery companies, first established as a trade or ...more

A busy and turbulent month for the leather industry, particularly in the UK, as we saw one of our oldest tanneries, Pittards, head into administration, resulting in the loss of 150 jobs in the UK and 850 jobs in Ethiopia. That news was followed just a week later with a letter from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton to in ...more

Three of SA’s biggest PPE OEMs are involved in what is – so far – a war of words over copying.On 04 September, BBF Safety Group sent a notice to its distributors and some end users claiming Dromex’s Nobuhle and Ulteco Plus styles “replicate too closely our Sisi Reese and Bova Neoflex safety boot styles” ...more

Durban, KZN, SA (09 October 2023) – South Africa's sewage crisis has dire consequences for public health, waterways, and ecosystems. Outdated and poorly maintained wastewater infrastructure due to insufficient investment is one factor that results in poor waste management. The strain of rapid urbanisation with inadequate sanitation ...more

* Origify from Bosch enables image-based recording of products during production or packaging processes.* A following check for authenticity can also be done via a suitable smartphone with camera and the Origify app. ...more