S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol82 No9 Nov 2019
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IN THIS ISSUE:
3 Business Barometer
- Tavonga Gonyora, Dick Whittington Shoes: Anticipating improvement.
- Fiona Dale, AFD Industries: Leather easier to source, but getting good price for finished article is difficult.
- Morné Howell, Afro-Thai Industries: Growing customer base, bringing in new brand, and confident for 2020.
5 Businesses
- TWFG launches Lonsdale and plans to unveil another global brand shortly.
- Leg up for new sneaker brand Corks.
- Enlite Agencies represents Bata and Skechers and offers local sourcing.
7 Opinion
- Sneakernomics: Holiday 2019 predictions for sports retail.
8 Doing Things Differently
- Nick & Nichols: Bags made from recycled tyre inner tubes.
10 Shoe Repairing
- Vaal University of Technology and Brumby Shoe Components offer course.
11 Sustainability
- How footwear brands are leveraging partnerships and materials as demand for sustainability grows.
12 And Now For Something Completely Different
- The curious origin of the high heel.
13 International
- Under Armour under pressure.
- Italian footwear exports up by 7% by value.
14 Going Home
- European Commission launches project to attract young talent to the industry.
15 Marketing
- Digital marketing: Your audience is waiting, says Shikaar Mahabir of Activate.
16 Trends
- Miss Black.
- UrbanArt.
- Micam preview for autumn/winter 2020/21.
- The white sneaker phenomenon.
20 Notice Board
- Obituary: Ben Cartoon - A world-class figure in the belt industry.
- Obituary: Howard Spiro - 'Proper old school' in the most positive sense of the term.
Advertisers in this Issue
Activate (2), Chillisource/Shoepack (6), Creative Leathergoods Manufacturers (4), Kaytex Belts (8), Mossop Leather (OFC), Strassberger's (9), TWFG (OFC).
Footwear Industry Articles
- 2025 FORECASTSBy common consent, 2024 has been a difficult year for almost all businesses, organisations, government departments and people in the SA leather value chain. The main exceptions would have been successful exporters, because the domestic market has been getting poorer year after year. The underlying reasons are mostly to do with the policie ...moreAI is putting an end to counterfeit sneakers
Osmo’s AI-powered scent authentication machine in action, revolutionizing the fight against counterfeit sneakers by detecting unique chemical profiles with remarkable precision.As the sneaker resale market continues to boom, counterfeit goods remain a persistent concern for both luxury and mass-market brands. Counterfeiters have bec ...moreWhat if South Africa loses AGOA? A hypothetical scenario for the footwear export industryThe interconnected nature of trade, politics, and diplomacy reminds us that no industry operates in isolation. The possibility of South Africa losing its AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) benefits is purely hypothetical, but exploring such scenarios helps us plan for resilience and adaptability. This article is a thought exercise ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Rwanda: Realism needed for a country with wonderful hides and skinsNote: This correspondent requested anonymity.I read the Pill concerning the tannery park project in Rwanda. I fully agree with Sam Setter!Please allow me to share my mostly fantastic Rwanda experience. My first visit to Rwanda was back in 1981 where I met the MD of the Rwanda Leather Industry tannery at the outskirts of Kigali and the MD ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourIt’s the middle-class market, not the rich, where the real money isAlthough I fully realise that luxury is a very important factor for the leather industry, I believe that we focus too much on this particular sector, and forget the day-to-day use of leather. There aren’t too many people who can afford a €100 000 bag, a &e ...moreFusion achieves LWG silver ratingCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Fusion Leather World (Pty) Ltd is the 11th South African tannery to become a Leather Working Group (LWG) certified supplier. It has been awarded a silver rating.“It’s now expected of leather exporters to have certification,” said MD Denzil Spolander. “Most of our growth will be from e ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Mitigate risks and enhance efficiency - the ISO accreditation advantage
Durban, KZN, SA (11 September 2024) – ISO accreditation is a strategic investment that empowers businesses to enhance their competitiveness, mitigate risks, and seize new market opportunities. By adhering to globally recognised standards, organisations can build trust, streamline operations, and achieve sustainable growth. While the ...moreAI solution shows truck drivers where to park
Berlin, Germany (02 September 2024) – Parking spaces are in short supply at rest stops along Germany’s highways. Truck drivers are required by law to observe certain rest periods, so when they cannot find parking, they often simply park off to the side of an entrance or exit or on the shoulder, all of which are very ...moreThe importance of supporting local manufacturing to preserve South Africa’s footwear industry
Pinetown, KZN, SA – At Neptun Safety Footwear, our commitment to local manufacturing goes beyond producing quality footwear—it’s about building a sustainable, self-reliant economy in South Africa. We are passionate about growing local industries, not just for the jobs they create today but for the future they secure for ...more
