S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol89 No7 July 2023
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Innovation
- SA footwear manufacturing was 20% up by volume last year, SAFLIA says.
- Proudly South African has a new mascot – but oh dear, those SHOES!
07 Exports & Trade
- Lou Harvey: Defying conventional wisdom by successfully exporting non-leather bags to Japan (and many other places).
11 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Supreme Court rejects Biden’s plan to cancel student loan debt, raising concerns for footwear companies and retailers.
- From DTC embrace to wholesale reunion, Nike’s retail strategy unveiled.
- Exploring the implications of slip-in shoes on children’s growth and independence.
- Minimalist shoes – fashionable choice, but linked to higher risk of injury and pain.
15 Safety Footwear
- South Africa’s market-leading safety footwear styles a testament to local development.
18 Fashion
- We are focused on bringing international and developing private-label brands to Africa and beyond, writes Sole Agents Distribution MD Richard Dixon.
18 Trade
- APICCAPS launches World Footwear Yearbook 2023.
- Italy: Values up, volumes down.
19 Trade Statistics
- South Africa: May imports and exports of footwear and accessories, provided by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF (OFC), Berzacks (04), Evolution Engineering (01), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Rainbow Group (03), Royal Adhesive Industries (07), Saddler Belts (09), SAFLEC (10), S&V Directory (13), S&V Trade Fair Calendar (17), Strassberger’s (04).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 25 August.
- Borage: ISO certification helps open doors ‘in difficult market’
Pinetown, KZN, SA – The Rainbow Group cc, which includes Borage Textile Laminators, was certified ISO 9001:2015 compliant late last year, allowing it to supply entities which require quality assurance certification throughout their supply line.“Even in a tough environment, that’s helped bring in new business,” said ...moreProudly SA, but not very local
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (21 June 2023) – Proudly South African, the joint state-private sector association which promotes ‘buy local’ campaigns to encourage job creation, has had a more-than-life size mascot made to promote its message.Named Lolo (an abbreviation of “Love Local”) Warona (“ours”) ...moreLou Harvey: Defying conventional wisdom by successfully exporting non-leather bags to Japan (and many other places)
Durban, KZN, SA – Lou Harvey – the company – is, surely, the only business in South Africa’s CTFL exporting community which has had its products SOUND tested. And Lou Harvey – the person – is, surely, alone is receiving 800 WhatsApp messages in 1 day from the same person. You would be correct if you gue ...moreSupreme Court rejects Biden’s plan to cancel student loan debt, raising concerns for footwear companies and retailers
June 30, 2023, marked a significant blow for President Joe Biden. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against his ambitious plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt. This debt cancellation initiative aimed to benefit up to 43 million Americans, fulfilling a campaign promise that was made by the Democratic president. The court’s dec ...moreFrom DTC embrace to wholesale reunion, Nike’s retail strategy unveiled
Like a spouse saying to his or her partner — “I’m leaving you because I want to be alone, but I might come back, and when I do, please take me back.” This can be exemplified by what Nike has done. In 2017, Nike’s CEO, Mark Parker, announced at its Investor’s Day summit that the company would be embarkin ...moreExploring the implications of slip-in shoes on children’s growth and independence
As a retail analyst with a special interest in the footwear industry, I recently came across a captivating radio advertisement that piqued my curiosity. The ad showcased Skechers’ latest innovation: Hands-Free Slip-Ins. Being intrigued by this product, which promised to revolutionize the way children put on their shoes, I couldn&rsq ...moreMinimalist shoes — fashionable choice, but linked to higher risk of injury and pain
A recent study conducted by researchers at Griffith University in Australia looked at how different types of shoes affect runners. The study focused on minimalist footwear, which has less cushioning and support than traditional running shoes. The researchers wanted to understand if minimalist shoes could lead to more injuries and pain for ...moreSouth Africa’s market-leading safety footwear styles a testament to local development
With a 120-year history in occupational footwear, integrated workplace safety solutions provider BBF Safety Group remains Africa’s largest manufacturer of safety footwear. It also continues to expand its range of head-to-toe Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). ...moreWe are focused on bringing international and developing private-label brands to Africa and beyond.
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Now with a collection of 13 brands and more to be added, Sole Agents Distribution is well on track to being established in markets across Africa.New brands are continually added to the mix, and much time goes into the market and financial analysis before committing to any international or private-label brands.W ...moreWorld Footwear Yearbook 2023Is re-shoring a myth? Asia accounts for more than half of global CONSUMPTION.Porto, Portugal (27 July 2023) – The 2023 edition of the World Footwear Yearbook, produced annually by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association, has been published. This is the 13th edition.In a release, it highlighted:2022: Global footwear ...moreItaly: Values up, volumes downFirst quarter of 2023: Turnover (+13.6%) - Exports in value terms (+16.1%) - Export volumes (-2%) - Production (-1%)Milan, Italy (10 July 2023) – The first quarter of 2023 saw the recovery of the Italian footwear sector continue, with turnover up +13.6% compared to the same period in the previous year. This is th ...moreSA footwear & accessories trade statistics for May 2023Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (30 June 2023) – Source: SARS.Including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)Cumulative tradeTrade balance R'm (5 325 826 601)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.23Monthly tradeTrade balance R'm (1 029 940 927)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.24ExportsMonth % of total 0.18Cumulative 2022 (R'm) 1&nb ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Boat shoes: Sales finally climbing in the US, but local suppliers say there’s no uptick here
Under the headline “Boat shoes sales up for first time in 10 years — one year after fashion declared the style’s comeback”, Footwear News this month reported that boat shoe sales finally seeing an increase, “albeit a fraction of where the category once was in the 2010s”. ...moreElan-Polo SA launches sneaker range made largely from recycled materials
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Elan-Polo SA MD Stuart Worrall has launched a sneaker range made largely from recycled materials.The Green T range – currently 5 styles selling online for R1400 – have uppers and linings made entirely from recycled polyester/PET, insoles with 85% recycled PU content, and outsoles with 35% recycle ...moreSkechers going private to compete smarter?
Skechers has announced its acquisition by private equity firm 3G Capital for $63 per share — a 30% premium over its recent stock price — marking its shift from public to private ownership by Q3 2025. Once the deal closes, Skechers will be delisted from the NYSE, and public shareholders will receive a cash payout. CEO Robe ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Determining the product environmental footprint of ostrich leatherA priority for SA’s ostrich tanneries ...moreSA’s Agriculture Minister ‘demands immediate action’ to curb FMD spreadPretoria, Gauteng, SA (16 April 2025) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, requested the Department of Agriculture to urgently give attention to the needed action plans and steps to ensure inroads are made to effectively curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kwazulu-Natal.During a recent visit to KwaZulu-Nat ...more‘Real Leather. Stay different.’ chooses Taipei to host 2025 international final
The Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) has selected Taipei, Taiwan, as the host city for the 5th annual Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) international student design competition final, scheduled for 27-28 October 2025.Following events in London and Milan, the competition now underscores Asia's rising prominence as a hub for ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Beier Group, Department of Higher Education and SETA ‘better together’
Pinetown, KZN, SA – The Beier Group, which includes the BBF Safety Group, in December hosted the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) and the FP&M SETA for an oversight visit to ensure that state funds are being used in accordance with the Sectoral Skills Plan.DHET deputy minister Dr Mimmy Martha Gondwe and SETA ...moreA guide for SA employers in understanding the COIDA Act and Reintegration Policy
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA (24 February 2025) – South African employers are grappling with significant new responsibilities introduced by the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and the draft Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Return to Work Regulations. Published on 15 June 2023, these regulations are poised ...moreSwitch to updated standard: Footwear suppliers given time limit to run out old stockPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Safety footwear suppliers have until April 2026 to sell stock made to the 2014 edition of SA National Standard (SANS) 20345.The National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) confirmed this at a stakeholder meeting on 11 March.The SA National Standard (SANS) for safety footwear in South Africa was upgrade ...more
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