S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol89 No4 April 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- A hard-fought campaign by SAFLIA to get the minimum duty on imported footwear increased has been stymied - for now. Jirka Vymĕtal explains the lengths the association has gone to so far.
- Boardriders: Going back to the licensee model? Dane Patterson says the likely new owners will probably look for local distributors.
- Revamped Lighthouse Shoes "is an example of black industrialists we're building from the bottom up", says Trade & Industry deputy minister Nomalungelo Gina.
07 Innovation
- Kenyan fish skin tannery develops banana stem-based material for shoes and upholstery. Alisam Products' Newton Owino finds another waste product to beneficiate.
08 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- The first net zero sneaker: Can Allbirds' MO.ONSHOT compete with leather shoes for profitability?
- The rise of gender neutral shoes in America.
10 Technology
- Berzacks' Juki launch: 'Clear indication which machines to hold in stock,' says Keith MacLachlan.
11 Exports & Trade
- Nothing mythical about 'Project Wakanda' as Bata SA grows its export programme.
12 Notice Board
- Obituary: Rob Pringle - components, mentoring, birding, golf...in all things an expert.
- Obituary: Eros Sirilli - a shoemaker's shoemaker.
15 Trade Statistics
- February imports and exports of footwear and accessories, provided by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (this page), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Royal Adhesive Industries (OFC), Saddler Belts (05), SAFLEC (13), S&V Directory (12), S&V Trade Fair Calendar (07).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 5 May.
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Footwear Industry Articles
- Palm Footwear: ‘One family’Palm Footwear was founded in July 1966 by Kasie Pattundeen, with 18 staff, making slippers.60 years later, with over 800 staff, it is among the biggest employers in the SA footwear industry and among the biggest manufacturers by volume.It remains a family business, headed by Rajeev and Kiran Pattundeen, with their children, Srishti and Rt ...moreNike claims ‘mental benefits’ from new styles, observers take wait-and-see approach
Nike makes big technical claims for a category of non-sport footwear (their description: pre-game and post-game) launched in January.Certainly not the first footwear to incorporate underfoot pressure points, ‘Nike Mind Technology’ is 2 shoes – a mule and a sneaker (in different colour options) – which Nike says lit ...moreComrades Expo 2026
Durban, KZN, SA – The exhibitor list at the Comrades Expo, from 11-13 June, has shown an evolution in the types of companies exhibiting. Just 1 running footwear supplier, Ikhambi Distribution, promoting its Hoka brand, was there.Technical sock suppliers, however, were well represented, with Balega, Falke, Sox Footwear and The Hirst ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Kenya 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 ...moreDavid Buirski retires (but we’re sure to hear more from him)
David Buirski, the former South African who edited World Leather from 1993 to 2005, and who continued his involvement with the publication and its offshoots until recently, has finally retired because “having turned 90 last December, I guess it was the sensible thing to do. Thirty-three years could be considered a long time.&rd ...moreOrganic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead
Washington, DC, U.S.A. (23 June 2026) — Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorde ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Indoor air quality monitoring: protecting people, processes, and productivity in South Africa
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming an increasingly important topic across South Africa as industries place greater focus on occupational safety, environmental controls, and operational reliability. While air quality concerns were once mainly associated with mining, heavy industry, or healthcare environments, businesses across multiple s ...more2nd SA PPE conference being planned for 2027 under the heading ‘Smart protection: the next era of PPE’Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Technology, artificial intelligence, connected devices and data are transforming the way we think about personal protection equipment — from how PPE is procured and selected, to how it is used, monitored and managed in the workplace.After the successful launch of the South African PPE conference hel ...moreObituary: Colin Battle, agent (17/04/1957-27/07/2026): Our sales trips were a whole life experience
Dearest Lee, Greg & Sammy,I send my sincerest condolences & wishes of long and healthy lives to all of you, after the passing of your beloved Colin. I’ve no doubt that once the pain of losing an adored husband and father starts to subside, you will be left the glorious memories of your lives together with a most wonderful an ...more
