Angel Footwear: Biker boot exports undergoing wearer trials

Ashley Ramlakan…Gearing up for export to the U.S.
Durban, KZN, SA – Angel Footwear cc is developing a stitchdown boot for distributor Gredale to supply Harley Davidson-franchised stores in the U.S.
“We’re still in the development stages,” member Ashley Ramlakan said. “It’s a highly technical product, requiring waterproof materials and construction and heat resistant soles, which we’re developing in-house. At this point, I can’t say when we will start production.”
He said Harley’s U.S. stores are able to buy ‘white label’ – i.e. other branded – products, and the footwear, when it does go out, will be under the Howzit brand.
He said results from the wearer trials in the U.S. and locally were “very encouraging”.
Angel has set up a separate track to make the footwear.
This is Angel’s second venture with Gredale.
“We had a relationship with them pre-covid,” he said. “We delivered for online orders, but the bulk was cancelled because of covid.”
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