Footwear - Leather - PPE Industry News & Articles
- Dodo’s: Addressing structural challenges essential if local retailers are to remain competitive in the long termThe Effects of TEMU and SHEIN on South African Retail: A Perspective from Dodo’s and Franco Ceccato chains.The emergence of online retailers like TEMU and SHEIN has significantly impacted the South African retail landscape, especially for brick-and-mortar stores such as our Dodo’s and Franco Ceccato chains. These platforms are ...moreKingsmead: Tax them, don’t ban themIs your business affected by Temu and Shein, and can you quantify that in any way?We have not significantly felt the effect of Temu and Shein, that being said, it is early days and apparel retailers would probably feel the effects first.How do their prices compare to yours?From what I have seen both Temu and Shein offer a low-price model, ...moreJumbo: I’m sure we’re affected, but it’s not hugeEast London, E. Cape, SA – They affect every business, I’m sure, though I don’t know how much. I certainly don’t know how much they affect mine, but it’s not massively.The way to counteract them is to improve customer service – after all, we’re on the ground. I suppose also improve our buying.&nbs ...moreWhere are we heading as a society? From slip-on shoes to revolutionary shoelace solutions21 January 2025 – In a world increasingly defined by convenience and technology, even footwear reflects profound societal changes. The rise of slip-on shoes, led by innovators like Kizik, and the advent of transformative solutions such as Twirlys’ no-tie shoelaces highlight our collective pursuit of simplicity, efficienc ...moreThe future of workers in India’s footwear and apparel factories is uncertain, as growing competition from Shein’s re-entry into India with lower-priced merchandise intensifies07 January 2025 – Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion brand, is re-entering the Indian market through a partnership with Reliance’s Ajio platform, as reported by media outlets. The brand had been banned in 2020, alongside other Chinese apps, due to geopolitical tensions. Known for its affordable and trendy fashion delivered at rap ...moreAI-generated images of a Birkin bag show just how iconic and widely recognized its design has become. Even AI knows its distinctive look!01 January 2025 – Walmart, America’s retail powerhouse, has disrupted the fashion industry with the “Wirkin Bag,” a budget-friendly alternative to Hermès’ iconic Birkin bag. Officially called the Kamugo Genuine Leather Handbag, the Wirkin has captivated social media, offering luxury aesthetic ...moreThe rare shoemaker who had a passion for the closing roomObituary: John Paris Watt – Bata Shoe Co., Bresan Footwear (09/12/1944-05/01/2025) Howick, KZN, SA – It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my father, John Paris Watt, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who passed away at the age of 80 earlier this month.Born in East London in the Eastern Cap ...moreTemu and Shein: Their marketing is overwhelmingThe only equitable and workable solution is via duties.“I saw my wife’s Shein invoice in November. For a mixed parcel, it included 20% duty,” he said. “So the duty our business pays for imported clothing, which is 50% to 60% of our buy, must either be dropped to 20%, or the duty Shein and Temu pay must be increased ...moreBergstan: Less affected on the plattelandNeither of those has had an effect on my business. I suppose it’s because my stores are more on the platteland. The only thing that has an effect on us is the economy. ...moreUganda to start producing footwear and soles in 2025 at Kawumu Leather IndustryKampala, Uganda (19 December 2024) – The journalists who recently met the president while on a PDM assessment tour in Teso and Karamoja requested for a wealth creation tour of model farms in the country to strengthen mindset change to enable them to successfully engage in production.Uganda is set to begin producing footwear and sole ...moreYOGHURT UNHAIRING A missed opportunity?In December 1986 a group out of the now defunct Protein and Leather department (headed by Heidemann) in Darmstadt published a paper that received some attention - but did not manage to influence the industry to the extent it should have. The group was trying to develop a new preservation method using a technology that Germans have used fo ...moreNew Year, New Ambitions?The tradition of making a New Year’s Resolution is entrenched in ancient roots. Originally, used as a promise or commitment to Gods to repay debts or return borrowed items, they were a form of restoration. Resolutions evolved through Roman times to include reflection on the past as well as promises for the future, that often inclu ...moreLeather & Hide Council of America backs Congressional Slow Fashion CaucusStay Slow. Stay Real. Enjoy the Journey.03 December 2024 – The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) has pledged its support to the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus. The caucus, founded by district of Maine congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Washington district’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and California's Sydney Kamlager-Dove ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': Environment and PoliticsCOP 29 is behind us and to say that it was a failure would be the understatement of the year! Mountains of millions were spent to have people attend, more as a relaxing holiday than a full-scale attempt to get projects approved to improve the environment. The VIPs, those that promote the action against climate chance, all travelled by pri ...moreNo replacement yet for Pangea SA MDNigel, Gauteng, SA – Former Pangea SA MD Shalen Sewnandan, who left the company in October last year, is consulting to Pangea, among other companies, on various issues.Pangea SA has not, so far, announced a new MD. Top management currently running the company are finance & administration director Adrian Visser, operations & ...moreISTT launches online courses for international marketGrahamstown, E. Cape, SA – This year, the International School of Tanning Technology will become just that – international – and our first 2 foreign customers have signed up before we launch.All our courses have been redeveloped for online tuition.Given the shock announcement last year that the University of Northampton ...moreState eyes Sh175bn annually from revamped leather industryBusiness DailyNairobi, Kenya (06 January 2025) – The State is eyeing a Sh175 billion annual turnover from a revamped leather industry, up from the current Sh15 billion, a top official said.Deputy president Kithure Kindiki, while inspecting work on the planned Kinanie Leather Park in Machakos County on Monday, said the leather indust ...moreCall for joint research proposals in agro-processing (food & feed) and leather value chain development in Kenya and UgandaNairobi, Kenya / Kampala, Uganda (06 January 2025) –The Ugandan National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and the National Research Fund (NRF) Kenya have issued a bilateral joint call for collaborative research proposals under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). This initiative aims to generate critical knowle ...moreStudies in leather educationThe loss of much tradition-based training - such as the recent closure of ICLT – is a matter of concern, and can have serious effects that extend across the global leather sector. Nevertheless, there are two existing and updated studies available to help address these eventualities and minimise the impact of such closures.The first ...morePathology of ‘double scale’ skin defect in farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and the possible association with hepatic fibrosisIlaria M Piras 1, Annemarie Bezuidenhout 2, Josué Díaz-Delgado 3 4, Deirdre Slawski 2, Pamela A Kelly 1 Affiliations1University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.2Padenga Holdings Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe.3Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Statio ...more© S&V Publications