S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol88 No2 February 2022
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
Click the advert links for more info. • Download PDF











IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Doing Things Differently
- The first in a new series on footwear and leather goods manufacturers who successfully pursue alternatives to the mainstream. In this issue, interviews with:
- Jean-Laurent Teplitsky of Bertier Customs.
- Patricia Terre of Handmade Espadril.
08 Sector Reports
- Fashion: Dakotas - Supreme Hat & Cap breathes new life into old brand, explains Clive Pozniak.
- Safety footwear: Sisi launches first locally manufactured metaguard safety footwear style for women.
- Sportswear: With the move by major brands to direct-to-consumer channels, it's time for retail to reinvent itself, says Mike's Sports' Mike Augoustides.
- Sportswear: Direct-to-consumer has left the door wide open for smaller brands, says Olympic International's Gary van Rooyen.
13 The U.S. Market
- Sneakernomics: Trends in sports retail for 2022, by Matt Powell.
14 Sustainability
- Huntsman develops bio-based PU for Keen's plant-based soles.
- Texon boosts sustainability credentials with recycling certifications.
16 Training
- STADIO School of Fashion launches clothing production diploma.
14 Notice Board
- Mike Lashbrooke obituary: The booming voice is still, but not forgotten.
- Geert Schuiling obituary: An entrepreneur with an abiding passion for leather.
- Richemont appointment: Dr Bérangère Ruchat is chief sustainability officer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group (OFC), Caterpillar / Medicus Footwear (08), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Italtan (3), S&V Calendar , S&V Directory (10), SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (09), Saddler Belts (05).
In The Next Issue:
- An explosion of crafters: What impact are they having on component suppliers, manufacturers and retailers?
Out on March 4
- Bertier Customs: Handmade, to a different dimensionShoemakers who know Jean Teplitsky genuflect when they mention his name. He, however, is quite humble. What is the inspiration for your brand/styling/concept? My inspiration is contemporary style integrated with classic techniques elevating the product to the highest level, while always trying to balance comfort, aesthetic and q ...moreDakotas: Resuscitated by new owner, and plans for new sourcing and new productsJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA - The Dakotas footwear brand - which was bought from the liquidators of Footwear Direct in July - "is back up and running", and is the subject of a raft of plans, says Clive Pozniak, MD of Supreme Hat & Cap (Pty) Ltd, the new owners of Dakotas Supreme, a headwear manufacturer, and its sister company ...moreSisi Safety Wear launches first locally manufactured metaguard safety footwear style for women.Pinetown, KZN, SA - Women are making up a greater proportion of the workforce, and this includes sectors that have typically been male-dominated such as mining, manufacturing and construction. However, there are still limited offerings in specialised female safety footwear within these sectors. “This is why Sisi Safety Wear is ...moreOlympic International: The door is wide openCape Town, W. Cape, SA - The move to direct-to-consumer sales by global brands "leaves the door wide open for us", says Gary van Rooyen, who last year agreed a licensing deal with Bolton Footwear to take over the Olympic International sports footwear brand. "I find it sad that solid independent retailers who helped Ni ...moreMike's Sports: 'Time to reinvent ourselves'Gap opens for middle tier brands as top ones abandon independents Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - "If you're confused about the status of school and amateur sport in South Africa this year, join the club," said Mike Augoustides, a partner with his brother, Casey, in Mike's Sports, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. "Communication by the ...moreHuntsman develops bio-based polyurethane for Keen's plant-based solesThe Woodlands, Texas, USA (27 January 2022) – Footwear experts at Huntsman have helped KEEN, Inc. develop a range of sneakers with plant-based soles. The Field to Foot (F2F) sneakers were created by KEEN’s 'advanced concepts team', using a bio-based polyurethane system from Huntsman that contains a by-product from agricultural ...moreWhere quality and innovation come first, second, third...This was intended to be a one-off feature, but it's become clear that there are many more businesses - and many more takes on how to do business - than could be included in a single issue. So now the intention is to make this a regular segment in the monthly magazine. As an introduction, it seems to S&V that there are 2 parallel leath ...moreSneakernomics: Trends in sports retail for 202226 January 2022 - The U.S. sports retail business was very disrupted in 2020 and 2021. Earlier trends reversed themselves and different ones emerged. Old habits were shed, and new ones replaced them. We can expect dramatic shifts to take hold once again in 2022. Macro trends in sports retailFirst, direct-to-consumer (DTC) initiatives ...moreWaiting for UK Government to decide on trophiesThe hunting, taxidermy and game skin industry in SA is faced with another campaign to ban it and its products - this time in the UK. Pieter Erasmus of the SA Taxidermy & Tannery Association (SATTA) explains the background and the threats this poses. ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Expectation that December will be betterDavid Fox, Choice ClothingCape Town, W. Cape, SA - It’s been a pretty tough year for most retailers, I think – a weak Rand and cash-strapped consumers. Our Black Friday promotion will run from 21st November to 3rd December, with specials every day. The merchandise will be across the board – T-shirts, jeans, footwear. It ...moreHow Asics expansion in non-metro India supports local growth and echoes BRICS aspirationsJapanese sportswear brand Asics is making notable progress in expanding into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to meet the rising demand for athleisure outside major metro areas. According to Economic Times, by the end of 2024, Asics plans to operate 120 stores across the country, driven by a surge in e-commerce sales from non-m ...moreNCRF: ‘A very complicated stew’Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – The NCRF has 10 members with very different approaches to all sorts of things, so a forecast is difficult.We’re keeping an eye on factors including reduced interest rates, the two-pot retirement system, and political outcomes, and there is a degree of optimism, but I’m not willing to attach any f ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- The power of partnership…This month we are delighted to announce the beginning of a new programme, being funded by the Leather & Hide Council of America as part of the US Regional Agricultural Programme. ...moreUpdate on FMD in SA: 4 provinces declared free from foot and mouth disease outbreaksPretoria, Gauteng, SA (25 October 2024) – The Department of Agriculture has announced that the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, which occurred during 2021-2022, has been successfully resolved in the North West, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga Provinces. These provinces, which were initially impacted by the outbreak, have n ...moreHide demand steady amid growing global supply, gelatine plants absorbing higher number of lower gradesThe picture I get of the leather industry globally is that it is losing share in all its markets for a variety of reasons. In South Africa, the situation is compounded by cash-strapped consumers choosing cheaper alternatives. Cape Produce Company is at the beginning of the leather process, and it supplies all leather markets in SA and internationally. I asked CEO Benjy Lapiner if the picture is as bleak as I’m told. No, he said, but… ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Test methods for breathability of infant products focus of new subcommitteeSubcommittee F15.12 aims to fill the gap on breathing hazards for infant products W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S. (26 September 2024) – ASTM’s consumer products committee (F15) has begun a new subcommittee on Firmness and Breathability of Juvenile Products (F15.12) on infant breathability test methods. The subcommitt ...moreAI solution shows truck drivers where to parkBerlin, 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 ...moreMitigate risks and enhance efficiency - the ISO accreditation advantageDurban, 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 ...more
© S&V Publications