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
- SGS adds to its ‘green’ certifications
International testing, inspection and certification company SGS has launched 2 additions to its SGS Green Marks programme: Product Carbon Footprint and Carbon Footprint Reduced. Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is an essential measurement of greenhouse gas emission and removal within a product’s life cycle. Brands, manufacturers, ...moreInvestor lawsuit hits LululemonLululemon Athletica Inc. is currently facing a class action lawsuit filed by a shareholder who claims the company misled investors by failing to disclose critical information about its business operations. This lawsuit involves individuals and entities who purchased Lululemon securities between December 7, 2023, and July 24, 2024.The Alle ...moreOthers have taken their placeLouis Trichardt, Limpopo, SA – I do think their drop in business is because they have sidelined all the independents. After all, it was the independents that grew the brand, not the chain groups. With this being said, all other companies have taken advantage and grown to another level. One of those is Puma which has grown so much an ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- IULTCS announces the appointment of four new Commission Chairs
Each Chairperson was selected due to their dedication, leadership, and vision for the IULTCS organization, these attributes stood out during the election process, and the officers are confident that each one will excel in their new role.As Commission Chairs, they will play a crucial part in shaping the future initiatives, fostering collab ...moreA gentle, decent man who contributed to a better environment professionally and personally
Obituary: Roger Alec Rowswell – Somerset West Municipality, Cape Town Municipality, Leather Industries Research Institute, Tannery Environmental Consultancy Services (12/01/1948 – 20/08/2024) ...moreEnzymatic removal of proteoglycans in hides promotes opening-up of collagen fibre bundles
IntroductionWhen a hide loses moisture, the proteoglycans present in the hide stick the collagen fibres together. This negatively impacts the penetration of water and other chemicals into the hides during processing, and also the opening-up of the collagen fibres and hence the softness of the leather. It is therefore ideal to remove prote ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Dangee Carken enters safety footwear
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Fashion footwear company Dangee Carken has entered the safety footwear market with its Grittgear brand.Safety footwear industry veteran Mark Silverman has joined as a director of Dangee leading its safety division.“With three decades in the workwear industry, I have gained an in-depth understanding ...morePromoting health and safety on construction sites: a vital commitmentCape Town, W. Cape, SA (24 June 2024) – In the wake of a recent construction site tragedy in George where a building collapse resulted in injuries and loss of life, the imperative of prioritising health and safety protocols on construction sites has come sharply into focus. Such incidents underscore the paramount importance of adher ...moreUnderstanding how compliance training and the QCTO apply to your workplace
Potchefstroom, N.W. Province, SA (17 July 2024) – In South Africa, navigating the rapidly changing landscape of workplace training can feel overwhelming. We are in the midst of a momentous transition to the Occupational Qualification Sub-Framework (OQSF) overseen by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and this shif ...more
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