IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Headline
- News to be aware of.
03 Doing Things Differently
- Project Dyad: A leather goods manufacturer merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Answers from Jessika Balzer.
- Freedom of Movement: Aiming for a globally recognised South African lifestyle brand. Léan Boezaart explains.
08 Sector Reports
- Fashion: Tarzan has received its biggest export order to date, says John Olde-Oldhof.
- Safety footwear: Sisi launches first locally manufactured metaguard safety footwear style for women.
- Fashion: New distributor Crick opens first concept stores.
- Safety: Lemaitre focuses on comfort.
12 The U.S. Market
- NPD: The pricing conundrum.
- NPD: U.S. footwear industry growth rates look to be slow but steady through 2024.
15 Sustainability
- Texon develops new sustainable, biodegradable fashion material.
- Footwear remains biggest market for recycled PVC in SA.
- MICAM puts the focus on sustainability.
16 Fairs & Events
- Première Vision Paris: 'A successful edition marks the sector's revival, and rises to the challenges of tomorrow's fashions.'
- Messe München reorganises ISPO team.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group (OFC), Caterpillar / Medicus Footwear (08), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Italtan (03), JFK Trading/Jack Parcels (04), S&V Calendar (below), S&V Directory (11), Saddler Belts (08).
In The Next Issue:
- An explosion of crafters: What impact are they having on component suppliers, manufacturers and retailers?
Out on April 1
- Project Dyad: Merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design
Project Dyad, Leather goods manufacturer, was co-founded by Jessika Balzer and Vincent Urbain. In this issue, Jessika answers our questions. ...moreFreedom of Movement: Aiming for a globally recognised South African lifestyle brand
Freedom of Movement, clothing, footwear, leather goods, eyewear and timepiece brand sourced locally and imported, was co-founded by brothers Brothers Léan and Roal Boezaart. In this issue, Léan answers our questions. ...moreSebago: New distributor Crick opens first concept stores
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Distribution of Sebago in southern Africa shifted to the Crick Group from Medicus at the beginning of 2022, in line with the change of ownership of the brand in 2017 from U.S.-based Wolverine World Wide to Italian company BasicNet S.p.A. ...moreTexon develops new sustainable, biodegradable fashion material
Texon Verde is green by name and nature and contains up to 90% bio-based content ...morePremière Vision Paris: 'A successful edition marks the sector’s revival, and rises to the challenges of tomorrow’s fashions'
Paris, France (17 February 2022) - Première Vision Paris, the trade show for the upstream global creative fashion industry, takes stock of its latest hybrid edition, which featured a trade show on 08-10 February at Paris Nord Villepinte and an online digital week hosted on its website from 07-11 February. ...moreMesse München reorganizes ISPO team
Munich, Germany (08 February 2022) - After ISPO Munich was moved to November 28 to 30 and OutDoor by ISPO to June 12 to 14, Messe München is now also reorganizing the ISPO Group team: Tobias Gröber, alongside his role as Director Business Unit Consumer Goods, will also be responsible again for the entire trade fair and online portfolio for the ISPO Group. ...moreTarzan: Biggest export order to date, and more to comeTulbagh, W. Cape, SA - Tarzan Shoes, about 120 km north east of Cape Town in an area better known for its wines, is also one of SA's rare band of consistent footwear exporters. ...moreLemaitre Safety Footwear: Focus on comfortPinetown, KZN, SA - As a BBF Safety Group product, Lemaitre Safety Footwear is driven by passion, dedication, pride and a commitment to high-quality products that keep those who build South Africa safe. For over 30 years, Lemaitre has continued to cater for all industries. Our hand-made safety shoes help the tough South African workforce to continue building a stronger nation step by step. ...moreThe Pricing ConundrumWith the COVID lifestyle in flux, pricing has taken on new importance this year. Consumer lifestyles have changed significantly over the past two years, and many of those changes will remain after the pandemic is behind us. Even as more consumers return to work, the pandemic lifestyle likely will not shift back entirely to pre-pandemic modes. ...moreUS footwear industry growth rates look to be slow but steady through 2024, says NPD28 February 2022 - Prices will continue to rise but at a more modest rate over the next two years, as more promotional activity resumes. ...moreFootwear remains biggest market for recycled PVCCape Town, W. Cape, SA (1 February 2022) - The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) has welcomed the plastics recycling report for 2020 released by Plastics SA, indicating that the recycling of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or vinyl products in South Africa recorded a year-on-year increase of 9.5 %. ...moreMICAM puts the focus on sustainabilityThe footwear trade fair goes green with a dedicated area, new certification mark, and a robust awareness-raising activity aimed at the footwear industry ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Cavalli introduces comfort range
George, W. Cape, SA – Recognising the growing demand for footwear that balances comfort and style, Cavalli introduces Cavalli Comfort, a ladies’ footwear range thoughtfully developed for women who prioritise both foot health and refined elegance.Created by Leo D’ Mar cc, a family-run business established in 1997 and the ...moreAn 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 ...moreObituary: Vic Jablowski, BUSM, Protech V (03/09/1953-11/12/2025): One of those who survived BU’s closure
Durban, KZN, SA – My dad – was AMAZING.Born in 1953, he married Evelyn in 1979. My sister, Luanne Hough, was born in 1980, and I followed in 1983.A family man who made sure he supported his family in the most wonderful ways; he was also a loyal company man who worked most of his life for British United Shoe Machinery.But when ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Cooperation between SMEs, academia and government can find solutions
Dr Cecilia China, AfriTech Organic Leather Co. Ltd, the Nelson Mandela Institution of Science & Technology She said Africa has the hides and skins but lacks organised systems to convert them into competitive products.She described her interactions with the Kiwango Leather Cluster with the goal of producing high quality, eco-frien ...moreAfrican leather businesses holding LWG and SLF ratingsAs African leather manufacturers strive to grow their exports, the number which have qualified for ratings by the Leather Working Group (LWG) and the Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) is growing.By country, LWG lists the following:Algeria: Sarl Tannerie Ain FakrounBurkina Faso: Mona Industry SARL.Egypt: El Montaza Tannery, Piel Color C ...moreMobilising Africa’s human resource to reinvigorate the regional leather value chain
In last month’s edition I wrote about mobilising Africa’s livestock to reinvigorate the regional leather value chain, and this article is focussed on mobilising the human resource that is needed to make the most of the abundant livestock populations in the region.On Friday 12th June, newly organised SARLEN (Southern African Re ...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 £ ...moreJCB Footwear steps into a new eraJCB Footwear has announced the relaunch of its product range in South Africa, marking a new chapter for the brand in partnership with newly appointed distributor, Kaliber Safety Footwear, which is no stranger to the industry with its own successful range of safety and security footwear products.The relaunch introduces an entirel ...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 ...more
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