S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol82 No3 March 2019
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Business Barometer
- Attie Els, Els Agencies: Will the industry survive long enough to see the upturn?
- Hadley Craig, Cape Knife Cutting: Develop and diversify, or die.
- Tavonga Gonyora, Dick Whittington Shoes: Hoping for post-election confidence.
- Keith Baptista, agent: We need to sell what sells.
- Barry Selby, The Athlete's Foot: On balance, business is improving.
- Stephan Ncube, agent: Opportunities for a good year.
Opinion from NPD in the U.S.
- E-commerce in sports retail.
- What really happened with athletic footwear and activewear sales in 2018
Doing things differently
- A new series. In this first article, Graeme Tuck of Durban-based retailer/wholesaler Blueberry Blush describes the business's journey so far.
Business News
- Botswana start-up Armadilloz is looking to partner with local company.
- Borage diversifies into leather lamination.
- Bolton Footwear sports brand maintains partnership with SA Hockey.
- Sneaker retailer Vosk to do trial order with Tego Footwear.
Counterfeit
- Footwear accounts for over 20% of global counterfeit product, says statistical service Statista.
Exports
- Sourcing Journal reports that E Cape EPZ 'is a potential new global apparel source'.
Zimbabwe
- Inflation hits apparel.
- Chinese group 'considering shoe factory in Bulawayo'
Technology
- Scientists develop first fabric to automatically cool or insulate depending on conditions.
Notice Board
- SAFLEC's Louise Pelser, retiring at the end of May, looks back at her time in the industry.
Advertisers in this Issue
Dick Whittington Shoes/Johnston & Murphy (3), Europa Art Group/Clarks (OFC), Intershu/Bounce Max (2), Katz Footwear/Willow men's (5), Kaytex Belts (11), Strassberger's (12).
Footwear Industry Articles
- Investor lawsuit hits LululemonLululemon Athletica Inc. is currently facing a class action lawsuit filed by a shareholder who claims the company misled investors by failing to disclose critical information about its business operations. This lawsuit involves individuals and entities who purchased Lululemon securities between December 7, 2023, and July 24, 2024.The Alle ...moreDrip Footwear’s financial crisis - a cautionary tale
Rapid Expansion BackfiresDrip Footwear, a once-promising South African sneaker brand, is facing a severe financial crisis that has sparked intense scrutiny and debate. The company’s rapid expansion into shopping malls has backfired spectacularly, leaving it with a R20 million debt, a foreign exchange blunder, and the looming threat ...moreExpanding horizons: Leveraging African trade opportunities with SAFLEC's outward selling missionsThe South African Footwear and Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) is paving the way for its members to tap into African markets to grow their businesses through strategic outward selling and inward buying missions. These missions, tailored to maximize market presence and drive sales, are a game-changer for South African footwear and leather ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Enzymatic removal of proteoglycans in hides promotes opening-up of collagen fibre bundles
IntroductionWhen a hide loses moisture, the proteoglycans present in the hide stick the collagen fibres together. This negatively impacts the penetration of water and other chemicals into the hides during processing, and also the opening-up of the collagen fibres and hence the softness of the leather. It is therefore ideal to remove prote ...moreTLU SA & John Steenhuisen: A positive and constructive conversationTLU SA had positive and constructive discussions with the new Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on Tuesday morning.TLU SA attended the meeting this morning alongside other organisations where the main challenges in the agricultural industry were discussed. Steenhuisen welcomed the representatives and immediately addressed four ke ...moreNET ZERO LEATHER
The global business community seems determined to reach net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. The definition of what is net zero and how it can be achieved using off-setting was covered in the magazine before.This article will focus on leather and how it can be a leading material in ensuring that products made from it can be part of ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Dangee Carken enters safety footwear
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Fashion footwear company Dangee Carken has entered the safety footwear market with its Grittgear brand.Safety footwear industry veteran Mark Silverman has joined as a director of Dangee leading its safety division.“With three decades in the workwear industry, I have gained an in-depth understanding ...moreDrowning detection systems for residential pools subject of new standard
F3698 is the first ASTM pool safety standard of its kind. W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S.A. – ASTM International’s consumer products committee (F15) has developed the first standard, F3698, for computer-vision drowning detection systems for residential swimming pools.The devices covered in F3698 offer a variety of drowning saf ...moreTransitioning to climate-friendly construction: Bio-concrete and biogenic construction materials with cyanobacteria
Dresden, Germany (01 July 2024) – Fraunhofer researchers have developed a method of creating biogenic construction materials based on cyanobacteria. The bacteria multiply in a nutrient solution, driven by photosynthesis. When aggregates and fillers such as sand, basalt, or renewable raw materials are added, rock-like solid structure ...more
