Footwear - Leather - PPE Industry News & Articles
- Comrades Marathon 2025Because of its broad appeal and the number – 23 000 is the maximum allowed – and diversity of its participants, the Comrades is regarded as a key indicator of the popularity of running shoe brands in SA. Runners, who have to register by early December for the race in June the following year, are asked to fill in the brand ...moreAfrican Merino: Severe electricity, water breakdowns, ‘but we’re carrying on’
Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, SA – Wool-on sheepskin tannery African Merino Trading is playing catch-up following 30 consecutive days without water, and 75 days since January during which they either had no water and/or no electricity, preventing production.“Since we stopped exporting and downsized 8 years ago, we’ve been p ...moreESG PORTFOLIOS
Over the past decade, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has experienced significant growth, driven by increasing awareness of sustainability issues and a desire for ethical investment options. However, recent years have seen a notable decline in ESG investments, raising questions about their future viability. ...moreEuropean Commission Confirms Country Risk Classification in preparation for EUDR
Ahead of the legal deadline of 30th June 2025, the European Commission has adopted the Implementing Act on the Country Benchmarking System under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), effective from 22nd May 2025. This regulatory step is a pivotal development in the EU’s ongoing environmental strategy, aiming to curb deforestation linked to commodity imports. ...more‘Real Leather. Stay different.’ chooses Taipei to host 2025 international final
The Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) has selected Taipei, Taiwan, as the host city for the 5th annual Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) international student design competition final, scheduled for 27-28 October 2025.Following events in London and Milan, the competition now underscores Asia's rising prominence as a hub for ...moreThe effect of fatliquor sulphitation on leather quality
IntroductionDuring the fatliquoring process, the fatliquors are deposited or chemically bind to the leather fibres. This allows the fibres to move over each other and prevents them from sticking to each other when the leather is dried. It is therefore a well-known fact that fatliquoring impacts the tensile strength, tear resistance, imper ...moreACLE, new Moda China, UITIC – Shanghai gearing up for major event
‘China taking advantage of rock bottom hide prices’rnDuties on U.S. hides – opportunities for other countries? ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourMario PucciFirst, I would like to pay tribute to my friend Mario Pucci, former head of communications and international activities of Italian ASSOMAC, who left us on June 2nd. My sincere condolences to Antonella, Mrs Pucci.SavarIt’s extremely sad to note that Bangladesh is lifting the export ban on raw hides and wet blue leathers, a ...moreKaran Beef hit by FMD – no response from Bader SA on likely hold up in hide supplyCampaign to control and eradicate the disease ‘paying off’, DoA says ...moreOstrich industry: ‘No special concern over AI at the moment’Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA – Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks are and will remain a factor for the SA ostrich industry, but there is not currently an upswing in infections, SA Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) CEO Piet Kleyn said this month.“The source of AI is wild birds, and there’s nothing we can do about that. There isn&rs ...moreElan-Polo SA launches sneaker range made largely from recycled materials
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Elan-Polo SA MD Stuart Worrall has launched a sneaker range made largely from recycled materials.The Green T range – currently 5 styles selling online for R1400 – have uppers and linings made entirely from recycled polyester/PET, insoles with 85% recycled PU content, and outsoles with 35% recycle ...moreSome ideas to stimulate a recovery in local footwear and leather goods manufacturing
There are many factors other than reluctant chain buyers that contribute to the SA leather value chain’s problems ...moreBoat shoes: Sales finally climbing in the US, but local suppliers say there’s no uptick here
Under the headline “Boat shoes sales up for first time in 10 years — one year after fashion declared the style’s comeback”, Footwear News this month reported that boat shoe sales finally seeing an increase, “albeit a fraction of where the category once was in the 2010s”. ...moreSkechers going private to compete smarter?
Skechers has announced its acquisition by private equity firm 3G Capital for $63 per share — a 30% premium over its recent stock price — marking its shift from public to private ownership by Q3 2025. Once the deal closes, Skechers will be delisted from the NYSE, and public shareholders will receive a cash payout. CEO Robe ...moreSwedish retailer wanted to ensure its European suppliers were a better fit than Far East – SGS assessment programme raised standards of Macedonian supplier
Geneva, Switzerland (16 May 2025) – A partnership between testing, inspection and certification company SGS and luxury goods retailer, Shepherd of Sweden, has led to a transformation in footwear quality, reduced waste and increased production from one of the Swedish company’s principal European suppliers.Known for its hig ...moreThe key to a long life - a zest for living
Obituary: William ‘Bill’ Ramage – King Tanning, Apeco (01/05/1931-19/07/2024) ...moreBack in the day: When overseas travel was a real trip
Back in the day, the 1980s and 90s, before the time of cell phones and the internet, all design and marketing teams in the South African footwear industry had to visit the fairs and shop windows in Paris, Frankfurt, Bologna and Alicante in person to see the various new product releases from the design houses.This happened over a 3-week pe ...moreGrowing trend in the East towards factories staffed entirely by robots – rest of the world ‘being left behind’'While Europe is still focused on Industry 4.0, Asia is already gearing up for Industry 5.0, which emphasizes autonomy over mere connectivity.' ...moreCountry hides and skins: Changed markets for a forgotten source
Changes in the global leather market have impacted most on the bottom rung of the leather value chain – ‘country’ hides and skins. This was starkly illustrated when S&V African Leather received a call from someone in the Eastern Cape who had previously made a living collecting them for sale to agents acting on behalf of hide and skin collectors. The agents were still there, he said, but they weren’t interested in buying what he had to offer. Where should he look?rnrn A call to trader Gareth Diesel in East London, who works for and with Elliott Brothers and its subsidiary, East London Abattoir, confirmed that market had died in the province.rnrn He suggested we ask Greg Feinberg, MD of SA’s biggest hide and skin trader, pickler and wet blue tannery, Cape Produce Company, for ‘the bigger picture’. ...moreEthiopia’s Modjo Leather Manufacturing Hub aims to boost exports
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (12 April 2025) – The Modjo state-of-the art leather manufacturing facility and a renovated satellite laboratory are intended to spearhead Ethiopia's leather industry and foster sustainable employment opportunities.The project is a collaborative initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by t ...more© S&V Publications
