S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol83 No2 Feb 2020
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
3 Coronavirus
- Importers say they have stock - for now; APLF ponders delaying fairs.
4 Profile
- New Bata SA MD Michael Wyatt on plans for the business.
5 Business
- Ihlobo Footwear in liquidation.
6 The U.S. market - opinion
- Consumers in 2020: 5 trends to watch.
- Sneakernomics: 2020 predictions for sports retail, by Matt Powell of NPD.
10 The Environment
- New Environment minister Barbara Creecy gives packaging industry a chance to get its house in order.
12 Trends & Fashion
- Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags: Sustainability as a global competitive edge.
- Chelsea boots to take over from sneakers, predicts Footwear Plus.
- Forecasts from Dangee Carken.
14 Notice Board
- Obituary for Jane Bairstow, A. Greenaways.
14 Trade
- SARS statistics for December 2019.
Advertisers in this Issue
Creative Leathergoods Manufacturers (9), Euro Industrials (3), Fubu (OFC, 2), Kaytex Belts (7), Micam (5, 6), Togo Footwear (8).
In The Next Issue:
- What's wrong with our CBDs? Durban as a case-in-point.
- PRICE:TBAPRICE:TBAPRICE:TBA
Footwear Industry Articles
- An industry with distinctive material riches, unable to sufficiently convert them into finished goods in a world class way“The project’s purpose,” said Courtney Grant, “is to be a robust, evidence-based strategy to address the leather and general goods sector’s challenges and unlock its growth potential.”The main headings of her presentation were:Creating the groundwork for a National Leather and General Goods Strategy:Fro ...moreManufacturer-buyer event: Among the retailer commentsKim Cunniffe, Kingsmead ShoesOur buyers found some suppliers they were unaware of, and a few possibilities in terms of product. We haven’t yet taken this forward, but we will do so.Hassen Ismail, Fashion WorldIt was more-or-less what you expect of local manufacturing in terms of styling, quality, and price.We have asked for samples. ...moreSAFLEC AGM 2026: Strengthening of relationships between industry organisations and government a key developmentThis has been a defining year for the South African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC). It has been a year of innovation, collaboration and meaningful progress, where together with our members and strategic partners, we have continued to strengthen the competitiveness of South Africa's footwear and leather industry while creat ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Leather Naturally launches new report on sustainable water managementLeather Naturally’s latest educational resource, Sustainable Water Management in the Leather Industry (https://www.leathernaturally.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Leather-Naturally-Sustainable-Water-Management.pdf), is available to download.Developed using insights from recent public consultation, the report explores:* Why water rem ...moreKenya announces $39 million investment to strengthen livestock productionKenya plans to launch a 5 billion-shilling ($38.6 million) investment program to modernize its livestock sector and strengthen one of the country's most important rural industries.President William Ruto announced the initiative on June 1 during a visit to Wajir County in northern Kenya.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the program ...moreWorld first - compost: Possible, desirable, not necessarily simpleThe world of compostable leather is not as historically accurate as the industry would like it to be. The definition of leather is: “hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible (rot-proof). Hair or wool may or may not have been removed, and the material can include split layers or ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Further controls over the import of safety footwear are on the wayOn 03 August 2026, the Safety Footwear Working Group, led by SAFLIA, submitted a request to Minister Tau (dtic) for interim import control measures in respect of specified safety footwear. The request was strongly supported by organised labour and other industry stakeholders.The application was further strengthened by contributions f ...morePerformance testing: Building credibility in the modern apparel and footwear marketThe lines between protective wear, sportswear, outdoor apparel, wellness clothing and everyday fashion continue to blur. Consumers increasingly expect garments and footwear to deliver more than style alone. Whether purchasing workwear, running apparel, outdoor footwear, school shoes or everyday casual products, buyers now look for comfort ...moreCONSIDERING A PPE MATRIXWhat Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do we need to have on site to reduce and manage the workplace and environmental exposure risks to our employees?Safety and mining legislation place the responsibility on employers to ensure that they provide and maintain working environments that are safe and without risk to the health on employees ...more







