S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol89 No6 June 2023
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Innovation
- Footwear and leather goods are mostly excluded from duty free imports under the AfCFTA agreement – at least for now.
- Traditional retail making a comeback at the expense of DTC, says Wall Street Journal.
06 School Shoes
- Veldskoen lends design in school shoe collaboration with Softer.
07 Exports & Trade
- Chimpel (Shim-Pal to those in the know): A hunger to succeed.
- SACU members sign agreement to ease imports and exports.
11 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Unravelling the future of boat shoes – insights into Sperry’s market position.
- Shocking underpayment of workers in modern day America.
- Inclusivity tested: Major retailer faces backlash, removes LGBQT merchandise.
- Luxury vs. middle-class market: Prada Group’s growth and PouYuen Vietnam’s setbacks.
15 Sustainability
- PVC industry fights to avoid global ban. - Global Vinyl Council feedback on Paris talks to ban plastic waste – a report by Monique Holtzhausen, CEO of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA).
- Première Vision: Following new rules.
- SGS expands network of ZDHC Foundation approved softlines labs.
- Microban develops metal-free anti-microbial technology
12 Notice Board
- Retirement: Terry Holton, ACA: ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work.’
- Bata appointments: Saket Mota, Denise Moodley, Suhail Rajah.
19 Trade Statistics
- South Africa: April imports and exports of footwear and accessories, provided by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
APLF (OFC), Berzacks (04), Bolton Footwear/Grasshoppers (05), Evolution Engineering (01), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Royal Adhesive Industries (07), Saddler Belts (09), SAFLEC (10), S&V Directory (13), S&V Trade Fair Calendar (17), Softer (03).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 21 July.
- Veldskoen lends design to South Africa’s ‘Ultimate School Shoe’; Aims to improve pupils’ mental health in the process
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Veldskoen has partnered with Softer Shoes to make the ultimate school shoes for SA kids. It aims to raise awareness about the critical role that proper footwear plays in supporting a child's overall well-being and educational development.The Softer x Veldskoen ‘Schoolskoen’ is designed and made w ...moreChimpel (Shim-Pal for those in the know): A hunger to succeed
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – What is it about Cape Town that most of the country’s top end leather goods manufacturers are there?That question made Chimpel founder Majda Rabin pause. “I don’t know,” she said. “I think we’re very cosmopolitan here.”The daughter of a tailor and a wedding dress des ...moreUnravelling the future of boat shoes: Insights into Sperry's market position
In the dynamic world of footwear and fashion, one company stands at a crucial crossroads of transformation. Wolverine Worldwide, USA, recognized for its esteemed brands such as Merrell, Saucony, Sperry, and Sweaty Betty, is embarking on a journey to reshape its brand portfolio. The recent revelation of "strategic alternatives" f ...moreShocking underpayment of workers in modern-day USA
Worker exploitation has always been a matter close to my heart. Having spent many years as an industrialist in Africa, I believed then that it was primarily an issue faced by developing nations in Africa, Asia and China. Little did I know that even in the United States, a country known for its affluence, such exploitation would be uncover ...moreLuxury vs. middle-class market: Prada Group's growth and PouYuen Vietnam's setbacks
Italian luxury fashion company Prada Group is set to expand its workforce and production capacity in response to increasing demand. The company plans to hire over 400 workers, including students from its prestigious Prada Group Academy, with a focus on skills development. Prada Group employs strategic marketing techniques such as advertis ...moreGVC feedback on Paris talks to ban plastic waste
Five members of the Vinyl Institute of the United States represented SAVA and fellow members of the Global Vinyl Council at the United Nations negotiations on a binding global agreement on plastic waste last week. During ten days in France, the PVC team met with more than 50 national delegations, trade associations, al ...moreBata appointments
Durban, KZN, SA – Bata Group has made several appointments.Bata South Africa's finance director of 2 years, Saket Mohta, has been promoted to regional finance director - Africa and Middle East Region for Bata Group, and is succeeded by Denise Moodley as the first woman FD at Bata SA.Bata SA country manager, Michael Wyatt, said of Mo ...moreFootwear, leather goods will mostly NOT be duty free from Africa – for nowWith little fanfare, SAFLIA, the DTIC and the unions have managed to persuade the SA Government to keep most footwear and leather goods tariff lines out of the soon-to-be-implemented African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will see most products traded duty free between African countries.So far.AfCFTA’s aim is to create ...moreTraditional retail making a comeback at the expense of DTC, says Wall Street JournalThe wheel is undoubtedly turning – things that were shunned as out-of-date, like bricks-and-mortar stores – are making a comeback. It appears some of the gloss has gone out of direct-to-consumer, too.On 19 June, under the headline, Brands Wanted to Cut Out Stores. Not Anymore, The Wall Street Journal wrote that brands, from st ...moreSACU members sign agreement to ease imports and exportsJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (31 May 2023) – Accredited traders in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa will benefit from lower trade costs and quicker turn-around times for imports and exports, because of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement signed today by the five Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SAC ...moreInclusivity tested: Major retailer faces backlash, removes LGBTQ merchandiseUSA Newspapers were abuzz on May 23, 2023, when reports surfaced that Target, a prominent retailer, promptly removed certain LGBTQ merchandise from its stores due to significant customer backlash. Target had previously introduced its Pride Collection, an initiative aimed at celebrating inclusivity. However, confrontations between customer ...morePVC industry fights to avoid global banThis is the era of environmentalism – the vital, the misguided, the rational, the emotional, but overall, the way the world must go. Domestic markets in poor countries are sheltered to some extent because for them, price is the main determinant. But when they become exporters, they must follow the rules of their target nations.Two p ...morePremière Vision: Following new rulesParis, France - This July 4, 5 & 6, Première Vision Paris will open its doors on an edition that's been redesigned to meet the challenges of the sector's transformation, driven by the transition to sustainability, regulatory changes, the impact of the pandemic on clothing consumption, the implications of the geopolitical crisis ...moreSGS expands network of ZDHC Foundation approved softlines labsSGS’s softlines laboratories in Hong Kong and Istanbul have been approved by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation to operate as ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) certification bodies for conformance to Levels 1, 2 and 3 of MRSL V3.1.The number of SGS’s ZDHC approved facilities has now ...moreMicroban develops metal-free anti-microbial technologyMicroban International – which develops antimicrobial technology, odour control and surface disinfection solutions – has brought novel metal-free technologies with more friendly toxicity profiles to market.Its latest solutions include: LapisShield, which offers easy to incorporate antimicrobial functionality for water-based ...moreRetirement: Terry Holton, ACA Threads ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work’Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Having reached the age of 71years, the time has come for me to hang up my work clothes and hand over to younger blood.I was born in Johannesburg on 14 June 1952 and lived in the Florida area and West Rand until 2011 and then moved to Randpark Ridge.Matriculated at Florida Park High School in 1969.I worked in th ...moreSA footwear & accessories trade statistics for April 2023Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (28 April 2023) – Source: SARS.Including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)Cumulative tradeTrade balance R'm (4 295 013 403)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.23Monthly tradeTrade balance R'm (837 219 286)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.30ExportsMonth % of total 0.22Cumulative 2022 (R'm) 1 024 735 317Cumulative 2 ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Where are we heading as a society? From slip-on shoes to revolutionary shoelace solutions
21 January 2025 – In a world increasingly defined by convenience and technology, even footwear reflects profound societal changes. The rise of slip-on shoes, led by innovators like Kizik, and the advent of transformative solutions such as Twirlys’ no-tie shoelaces highlight our collective pursuit of simplicity, efficienc ...more“De Minimis” exemption removal — what it means for Shein, Temu & Amazon haul
Recent changes to the “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed packages under $800 to enter the U.S. tax-free, have raised concerns about the future of fast fashion giants Shein and Temu, as well as Amazon’s newest entrant into the market, Amazon Haul. But what’s really at play ...moreNikeSKIMS — A game-changer or just smart marketing?
Nike and SKIMS are teaming up to launch NikeSKIMS, a new activewear brand debuting this spring. Nike, a leader in sportswear, brings its athlete-focused innovation, while SKIMS, Kim Kardashian’s brand known for shapewear and body-inclusive designs, adds its style and fit expertise.This partnership promises to combine performanc ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- New Zim tannery seeks ‘retired adviser’A new tannery to process cow and goat skins has started near Harare, and is hoping to attract “a retired tanning person” from South Africa for a short period to help set it up.“We have 3 drums and a few machines,” said Hashmook Naran of Tika Shoes, Harare, who is involved in the new business.“We’re curr ...moreSATEO’s Mark Oosthuizen to step downPort Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – Mark Oosthuizen, the long-serving secretary and legal counsel to the SA Tanning Employers’ Organisation (SATEO), has retired.In an email, he wrote: “Yes, I can confirm that after much soul searching and medical advice, I have come to realize that I am not in position to give my clients the s ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': Too much is still not enough!My favourite way of communication is definitely not social media. We are flooded with nonsense and plainly untrue posts, and I dare say that most have a negative influence on us, on our behaviour and our habits. Personally, I refuse to be told who to vote for, how to dress, what to eat and enrich in the process totally unknown people call ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- WHO targets 15 countries for elimination of sleeping sickness by 2030
A project is underway to eradicate ‘neglected tropical diseases’ (NTDs) in Africa.Among them is sleeping sickness, also known as nagana in domestic and wild animals.Sleeping sickness, known medically as human African trypanosomiasis, is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies, and is endemic in sub-S ...moreNew standard for PFAS assessment for consumer products ‘is useful for manufacturers, consumers, laboratories, and regulators’W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S. (07 January 2025) – A new ASTM International standard will provide users with a road map for planning and executing assessments of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products and articles. The new standard, which will be published as F3700, was developed by ASTM&rsqu ...moreSouth Africa’s first safety escape room for hands-on health and safety training
South Africa's first safety escape room was set up at Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC) in November last year by health and safety solutions provider KBC.“We required a fresh approach to training,” said Mabore Macheru, Manager in Training Development and Contractor Management at PMC. “This offers an interactive and practic ...more
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