Footwear Industry Articles
- Veldskoen lends design to South Africa’s ‘Ultimate School Shoe’; Aims to improve pupils’ mental health in the processCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Veldskoen has partnered with Softer Shoes to make the ultimate school shoes for SA kids. It aims to raise awareness about the critical role that proper footwear plays in supporting a child's overall well-being and educational development.The Softer x Veldskoen ‘Schoolskoen’ is designed and made w ...moreChimpel (Shim-Pal for those in the know): A hunger to succeedCape Town, W. Cape, SA – What is it about Cape Town that most of the country’s top end leather goods manufacturers are there?That question made Chimpel founder Majda Rabin pause. “I don’t know,” she said. “I think we’re very cosmopolitan here.”The daughter of a tailor and a wedding dress des ...moreUnravelling the future of boat shoes: Insights into Sperry's market positionIn the dynamic world of footwear and fashion, one company stands at a crucial crossroads of transformation. Wolverine Worldwide, USA, recognized for its esteemed brands such as Merrell, Saucony, Sperry, and Sweaty Betty, is embarking on a journey to reshape its brand portfolio. The recent revelation of "strategic alternatives" f ...moreShocking underpayment of workers in modern-day USAWorker exploitation has always been a matter close to my heart. Having spent many years as an industrialist in Africa, I believed then that it was primarily an issue faced by developing nations in Africa, Asia and China. Little did I know that even in the United States, a country known for its affluence, such exploitation would be uncover ...moreLuxury vs. middle-class market: Prada Group's growth and PouYuen Vietnam's setbacksItalian luxury fashion company Prada Group is set to expand its workforce and production capacity in response to increasing demand. The company plans to hire over 400 workers, including students from its prestigious Prada Group Academy, with a focus on skills development. Prada Group employs strategic marketing techniques such as advertis ...moreGVC feedback on Paris talks to ban plastic wasteFive members of the Vinyl Institute of the United States represented SAVA and fellow members of the Global Vinyl Council at the United Nations negotiations on a binding global agreement on plastic waste last week. During ten days in France, the PVC team met with more than 50 national delegations, trade associations, al ...moreBata appointmentsDurban, KZN, SA – Bata Group has made several appointments.Bata South Africa's finance director of 2 years, Saket Mohta, has been promoted to regional finance director - Africa and Middle East Region for Bata Group, and is succeeded by Denise Moodley as the first woman FD at Bata SA.Bata SA country manager, Michael Wyatt, said of Mo ...moreFootwear, leather goods will mostly NOT be duty free from Africa – for nowWith little fanfare, SAFLIA, the DTIC and the unions have managed to persuade the SA Government to keep most footwear and leather goods tariff lines out of the soon-to-be-implemented African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will see most products traded duty free between African countries.So far.AfCFTA’s aim is to create ...moreTraditional retail making a comeback at the expense of DTC, says Wall Street JournalThe wheel is undoubtedly turning – things that were shunned as out-of-date, like bricks-and-mortar stores – are making a comeback. It appears some of the gloss has gone out of direct-to-consumer, too.On 19 June, under the headline, Brands Wanted to Cut Out Stores. Not Anymore, The Wall Street Journal wrote that brands, from st ...moreSACU members sign agreement to ease imports and exportsJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (31 May 2023) – Accredited traders in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa will benefit from lower trade costs and quicker turn-around times for imports and exports, because of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement signed today by the five Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SAC ...more© S&V Publications