S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol89 No10 October 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Focus
- Hello Quality: An accidental purchase lead to a new business with big ideas.
04 Exports & Trade
- Fashion World Tokyo: Products that are identifiably African attract interest.
06 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- 30 million units sold, 1.2 billion Euros in sales in 1 year – Birkenstock’s remarkable story.
- From outsider to visionary – how Oliver Reichert reshaped Birkenstock.
- The hidden giant behind top brands: Stella International.
12 The Simac fair
- Desma: SA needs to play to its strengths, says René Muschalle.
- Volontè: Upgrade and diversify, says Felice Volontè.
- Ormac: Big or small, manufacturers need innovative machinery, says Gabriele Pauroso.
- PMC: Leather cutting, ‘TPR lite’ among the highlights, says Colin Parker.
14 Updates
- Certo Sports is new home for Olympic Footwear & Apparel and Racefood, says Gary van Rooyen.
15 Notice Board
- Obituary: Michele Di Lembo was a stickler for detail, writes his son, Pino.
- The Cobblers’ Lunch is no more. Some photos from the past.
18 Trade Statistics
- South Africa: August imports and exports of footwear and accessories, provided by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (11), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Palm Footwear (OFC), Royal Adhesive Industries (07), Saddler Belts (08), SAFLEC (09), S&V Calendar (18), S&V Directory (14), The Authentic Brands Company/Shoemaker’s Choice (01).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 24 November.
- Hello Quality: An accidental purchase leads to a new business with big ideas
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Horse riding is mostly an elite activity, and it comes with specialised requirements – it’s not an industry you stumble into by chance.Not usually, anyway.In 2014, former Zimbabwean Pardon Gwenzi was running a bar at a golf club in Greenpoint, and with the cold Cape winter approaching, he and his ...moreFashion World Tokyo: Products that are identifiably African attract interest
A series on successful South African footwear and leather goods exporters. Sponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC).A South African delegation returned to Japan’s Fashion World Tokyo trade fair from 10-12 October, for the first time post-covid. Described as ‘Japan’s largest international fashion ...more30 million units sold, €1.243 billion in sales in just 1 year — the remarkable story of Birkenstock
In the ever-evolving world of fashion and footwear, Birkenstock has emerged as a true titan, boasting a performance that commands attention. The company sold a staggering 30 million units, amassing an impressive €1.243 billion in sales. While these numbers alone are enough to turn heads, the real story lies in the fact that Birkensto ...moreFrom outsider to visionary — how Oliver Reichert reshaped Birkenstock
When Oliver Reichert assumed the role of CEO at Birkenstock in 2013, he brought something the iconic German footwear brand hadn’t seen in generations — an outsider’s perspective. This move was unconventional, and some may have questioned entrusting the legacy of a family-owned company to someone unfamiliar with the shoe ...moreThe hidden giant behind top brands: Stella International — is this company the barometer of what’s happening in footwear?
I've stumbled upon something rather intriguing. It appears that Stella International, Hong Kong, is the manufacturer behind the scenes for several well-known footwear brands. The extent of their involvement in the industry is truly impressive, and I had no prior knowledge of this. ...moreDesma: SA needs to play to its strengths
Southern Africa still has promise as a footwear manufacturing region – especially if it plays to its potential strengths and doesn’t try to outcompete the East on price, Desma Schuhmaschinen regional sales manager René Muschalle said.Although the PU moulding and robotic machinery manufacturer sells big ticket items, it& ...moreVolontè: Upgrade and diversify advice to SA
Volontè System Conveyor director Felice Volontè believes South African footwear manufacturers have the potential to increase production “substantially”, and to grow their export business, but that they must upgrade their products, and diversify their production.He was an annual visitor to South Africa before covi ...moreOrmac: Big or small, manufacturers need innovative machinery
Making track machinery manufacturer Ormac has “made a lot of improvements over the last 10 years”, sales area manager Gabriele Pauroso said.Among the trends have been all-in-one solutions to reduce the space required for machinery. “We have competitors who are promoting robotics,” he said, “but those take up ...morePMC: Leather cutting, ‘TPR lite’ among the highlights
On the shoe machinery side, Italy is holding its own. Companies that have been around for many years are positive for future trading. There are 2 reasons – China is slowing, and their manufacturers are concentrating on high tech industries mainly pertaining to electronic goods.. Also, the Italian government is assisting Italian shoe ...moreObituary: Michele Di Lembo – Villani Shoes (17/08/1939-01/08/2023) From training me to family lunches, a stickler for detail
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – In loving memory of my dad, Michele Di Lembo, born on August 17, 1939, in Campolieto, Italy, and who peacefully departed on 1st August 2023. He ventured to South Africa in 1961, as a highly skilled shoe creator and cobbler, and worked as the factory manager at an Italian factory, Curtolo Shoes. He did not ...moreSIMAC: Technology for a better worldThis year’s crowded calendar of September fairs in Milan – Micam, Mipel, The One Milano, Lineapelle and Simac Tanning Tech – also included the 21st UITIC International Technical Footwear Congress. Across them all, innovation and sustainability were the dominant themes. In the background, the Ukraine war, the changing role of China, and fragile economies, impact sales. At Simac Tanning Tech, exhibitors supplying the tanning industry mostly said the fair went better than they had expected, while those supplying footwear and leather goods manufacturers were less sure. ...moreCerto Sports new home for Olympic Footwear & Apparel and RacefoodCape Town, W. Cape, SA – We have changed our name to Certo Sports (Pty) Ltd as an over-arching company. Under this name, we incorporate Olympic Footwear & Apparel and Racefood, the nutritional food bar brand.Olympic Footwear & Apparel We have made inroads into the likes of Sportsman’s Warehouse, Totalsports, The Athlet ...more
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Footwear Industry Articles
- Tshepo opens new store at Mall of Africa
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (02 June 2026) — South African fashion brand Tshepo has opened its second store at Mall of Africa.Tshepo, founded by Tshepo Mohlala in Victoria Yards 10 years ago, specialises in locally made denim jeans.“Victoria Yards remains central to Tshepo's identity, serving as the bran ...moreNational Leather and General Goods Strategy WorkshopOn 23 June, following months of fieldwork, B&M Analysts (BMA) hosted an online workshop to discuss the recovery of the handbags, belts, travel goods and allied manufacturing industries in SA.The industries, although very diverse, fall under the General Goods & Handbags Sector of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Indus ...more2026 Comrades shoe count: Asics stays top, Adidas up, Nike slides into 4th place
Marathon shoe counts are among the few footwear statistics available in SA. The Sweat Shop’s Jax Snyman has extracted this year’s Comrades Marathon figures for comparison with last year.His assessment: “Asics up. Adidas properly up. New Balance steady although now 3rd largest. Nike down and drop in rankings to 4th. Sauco ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- ‘FMD is here to stay – we have to learn to live with it and manage it’
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – FMD is no longer a series of isolated outbreaks; it has become a national systemic risk, and we need to shift our mindset from emergency response to living with and managing FMD responsibly. The pressure is already showing in the numbers. Our latest figures show cattle slaughter down 12% and sheep slaughter d ...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 ...moreISTT offers free entry level leather course to encourage trainingGrahamstown, E. Cape, SA – The International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) is offering one of its short online courses, Introduction to the Leather Industry, for free.The course is suitable for entry level tannery staff.It is also suitable for anyone in footwear, leather goods, furniture and upholstery manufacturing, retailing ...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 £ ...moreCONSIDERING A PPE MATRIX
What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do we need to have on site to reduce and manage the workplace and environmental exposure risks to our employees?Safety and mining legislation place the responsibility on employers to ensure that they provide and maintain working environments that are safe and without risk to the health on employees ...moreProtecting the workforce: The critical role of PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised in a work-environment as part of a larger prevention plan, because on its own protection is limited and may even provide a false sense of protection.An occupational disease prevention plan must be an actionable approach that identifies workplace health hazards, evaluates exposure, and i ...more
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