IN THIS ISSUE:
Business Barometer: More hope, more innovation
- Evané Footwear: Downturn was expected.
- Fred Footwear: Positive mindset half the battle won.
- Claw Boot: Challenging but exciting.
- Paul Walsh Agencies: KZN is a poor province by comparison.
- Crossover: Exclusivity a point of difference.
- Arma Trading Store: A small country now overtraded.
- Anwary's: Politics and money.
- Universal Brands: Namibia faces many challenges.
- KG Chapaner & Co: Uncertainty and second hand goods hurting business.
- Anonymous retailer: Local suppliers picking up, but lack of variety.
Trends
- Bolton Footwear and Intershu Distributors share styles for summer.
- EVA Industries innovative with recyclable hangers for flip flops.
Government Intervention
- Masterplan: The government's vision for the CTFL sector, and how footwear manufacturers see it.
SAFLIA and SAFLEC AGMs
- SAFLIA chairman: It's not wise to say things can't get worse!
- SAFLIA director: We remain a resilient industry.
- SAFLEC chairman: Africa remains SA's major export market.
- SAFLEC director: We've made the world aware, now we need the product.
The strike - the war of words goes on
- An outside observer: Both sides miscalculated.
- SAFLIA: No good came out of this.
- SACTWU: No regrets.
- BBF/Neptun: Safety firms want changes to negotiation process.
- Chain reaction: Or lack thereof.
World news
- Almost all footwear sold in the US is imported. Now the industry is terrified of tariffs.
- Why JC Penney is targeting moms instead of Millennials.
- The fastest growing retailer in the US is not what you'd expect.
- Influencer fatigue is turning off shoppers, new study finds.
- The secret to Macy's rebound? Cutting inventory.
Advertisers in this Issue
Azula (2), Europa Art/Sergio Taccini (8), Fred Footwear (10), Katz Footwear (OFC), Tuftex (4).
Footwear Industry Articles
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brand
Durban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...moreCity of Cape Town backs AllFashion Sourcing as it seeks to grow CTFL sector
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 returns to Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC 2) from 14–16 July 2026, marking a significant milestone as the City of Cape Town joins as a key partner in advancing Africa’s fashion, textile and apparel sector.This partnership signals a shared visio ...moreNational Leather and General Goods Strategy WorkshopOn 23 June, following months of fieldwork, B&M Analysts (BMA) hosted an online workshop to discuss the recovery of the handbags, belts, travel goods and allied manufacturing industries in SA.The industries, although very diverse, fall under the General Goods & Handbags Sector of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Indus ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Sam Setter's 'Pills': A different perspectiveOne reader, Marc, commented on my March Pill: ‘Sam, the real frustration isn’t the criticism itself. It’s that we haven't been able to get our message outside our own echo chamber. I'm interested. How would you see the leather industry actually breaking through that barrier? In 2026, trust rarely comes from industry stat ...moreLEATHER’S ELEMENTARY UNIT
Geoff Attenburrow’s PhD student David M. Wright worked on the behaviour of leather under strain (Attenburrow, 1993; Wright, 1996). They were the first to describe that leather had a “co-operating unit”, a set of structures within leather that helped the leather to resist breaking and to resist deformation at low strain.T ...moreAdvancing industry standards: Delivering the first ESG audit for a leather chemical company
The Sustainable Leather Foundation’s (SLF’s) mission has always been to drive transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the leather value chain. While much of the industry’s historic focus has been on tanneries and manufacturers, true transformation requires engagement at every stage, and that inclu ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Occupational noise-induced hearing loss ‘is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world’
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world*. 16% of all disabling hearing loss in adults is due to noise exposure.It’s also expensive. According to one study, it costs US$242 million in annual compensation in the USA. In the UK, the typical cost per claim in the is £ ...moreBiodegradable disposable gloves ‘a growing trend’ in PPE
The poster is available to download in English in both PNG and PDF formats hereCompostable and biodegradable PPE are said to be rapidly growing trends internationally, lead by brands like Showa and HaPPE Earth.The nova-Institut für politische und ökologische Innovation GmbH in Hürth, Germany, has published an updated versio ...moreProactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protection
Our aim is to deliver value to the user experience by ensuring optimal protection, compliance, and operational confidence in every task performed.Hand protection has evolved significantly in response to the critical need to reduce workplace injuries and strengthen safety performance across diverse industries.Modern advancements in materia ...more
