S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No6 June 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- SA’s Chinese-owned factories: Frequently overlooked, but they shouldn’t be.
- Hi-Tec’s acquisition of Trappers – incremental improvements, not rapid growth, says Hi-Tec CEO Gary de Vogel.
- Paragon adds PPE reseller division to footwear factory.
07 Sportswear
- The Comrades Expo and Marathon – the shoe count: It’s still Asics’ show.
- Technical running exhibitors – Tifosi: Getting it ON.
- Falke: Clawing back market share with Mikado brand.
- The non-athletic exhibitors at Comrades.
- Waterkloof Golf Club opts for petrol carts over electric.
14 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Birkenstock shines, but let’s not forget the journey.
- Hoka – from running niche to lifestyle phenomenon.
- Under Armour’s struggle to regain its premium status.
21 Italy
- Italian footwear industry: Turnover and exports fall in first quarter.
23 Notice Board
- Retirement: Gerald Naidoo, outgoing general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA.
Advertisers in this Issue
Afro-Thai Industries/Aerosoft (09), Arena Trim (18), BBF Safety Group (05), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), FrontierCo/Busby (07), Haesloop Agencies (15), Kaliber (05), Kaytex Belts (13), Leather Finishing Products (20), LGB Distributors/Admiral (06), Palm Footwear (OFC), Saddler Belts (04), SAFLEC (16), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (17), Shotland Packing (22), Smerilli Design Manufacturing (11).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 26 July 2024.
- Paragon adds PPE reseller division to footwear factory
Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – Footwear manufacturer Paragon Footwear (Pty) Ltd has launched a PPE division, trading as Paragon PPE, and headed by director Dione Govender.Paragon PPE is an online reseller of a large range of leading brands of safety footwear, workwear, and branded corporate clothing and accessories. – Website www ...moreThe shoe count: It’s still Asics’ show
The official Comrades Marathon shoe count – based on entry forms – shows no real surprises.Asics, with 34%, remains the comfortable leader. Adidas, New Balance, and Nike were the only others to reach double figures.“My only doubt is the Adidas figure,” said The Sweatshop’s Jax Snyman. “They were footwea ...moreFalke: Clawing back market share with Mikado brand
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Over the past year, Falke Hosiery SA has been repurposing its Mikado stocking hosiery brand to include a medium-price sock range aimed at the domestic market.While over 80% of its Falke-branded technical sock production – which includes sports socks for running, skiing and hiking, with patented left- an ...moreTifosi: Getting It ON
Was the expo well organised? Siphiwe Maseko: From set up everything went well, our setup crew were there to assist on the set up and any changes to be made on the spot were fulfilled swiftly to make sure the display was in order. The Expo started on time and the influx of runners brought the vibe. The organisers made it to manoeuvre the e ...moreThe non-athletic exhibitors at Comrades
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition sponsors local manufacturers of non-sports products to exhibit at the Comrades Expo. This year, that group included: ...moreWaterkloof Golf Club opts for petrol carts over electric
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Waterkloof Golf Club has opted for reliability and ease of operation of its golf cart fleet as it switches to petrol-powered Club Car carts with roomy and comfortable interiors for its members.The new carts are made in the USA with large-framed golfers in mind and boast advanced suspension setups to soak up a ...moreBirkenstock shines, but let’s not forget the journey
Birkenstock’s recent performance is impressive. Some key financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, include:* Revenue of €481.2 million, representing an increase of 23%.* Strong double-digit revenue growth across all segments, including reven ...moreHoka — from running niche to lifestyle phenomenon
A Story of Growth and TransformationHoka, founded in 2009 in France and acquired by Deckers Brands in 2013, has revolutionized the athletic footwear market with its signature “maximalist” shoes featuring oversized midsoles. Its annual sales for the year ending March 31, 2024, reached $1.807 billion, a 27.9% surge, showcasing i ...moreUnder Armour’s struggle to regain its premium status
Under Armour, once a leading athletic apparel brand, has been facing a significant decline in sales and profitability. Despite a healthy turnover of $1.33 billion for the period ending Q4 2024, the company’s sales have dropped by 5% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, its net income has plummeted to $6.6 million fro ...moreRetirement: ‘A long and mostly enjoyable journey’
Durban, KZN, SA – After 33 years at the Leather Bargaining Council and at the ripe age of 63 years, the curtains have finally come down. My stint as the General Secretary of the Council and Principal Officer of the Leather Industry Provident Fund comes to an end on 31 May 2024.I had a long journey that was mostly enjoyable and at ti ...moreSA’s Chinese-owned factories: Frequently overlooked, but they shouldn’t beSouth Africa’s Chinese-owned shoe factories are a mixed bag. Some have been around a long time and face the same challenges as all other manufacturers, some are on the periphery and are marginally compliant with the bureaucracy governing the industry, others live in the shadows – unregistered businesses, unregistered workers, ...moreHi-Tec acquisition of Trappers – incremental improvements, not rapid growthThe acquisition of Trappers Outdoor by Hi-Tec Sports Distributors was reported in S&V Newsletter on 10 June. Here, Hi-Tec CEO Gary de Vogel replies to questions on the effect of the acquisition. ...moreTechnical running exhibitorsThe days when most running shoe and apparel brands had stands at the Comrades Expo are over. That side is now dominated by race sponsor Mr Price Sport, which runs a retail outlet at the fair. There were some running shoe and apparel brands exhibiting, including distributor Tifosi Sports, promoting the Swiss shoe brand, On, distributor Sti ...moreItalian footwear industry: Turnover (-10.1) and exports (-9.7) fall in the first quarter of 2024Milan, Italy (25 June 2024) – The Italian footwear industry experienced a sharp slowdown in the first quarter of 2024, recording a drop in both exports (-9.7% in value and -10.3% in pairs) and turnover (-10.1%). This scenario emerges from the latest report produced by Centro Studi Confindustria Moda for Assocalzaturifici, which also ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Jumbo: I’m sure we’re affected, but it’s not huge
East London, E. Cape, SA – They affect every business, I’m sure, though I don’t know how much. I certainly don’t know how much they affect mine, but it’s not massively.The way to counteract them is to improve customer service – after all, we’re on the ground. I suppose also improve our buying.&nbs ...moreObituary: Zelton Wiskin – footwear agent (24/03/1958-24/01/2025) :‘He loved to please people - regardless of the consequences’
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Retired former footwear agent Zelton Wiskin died in January, after a long illness, aged 66.Born in Johannesburg, he left school early to work for his stepfather, Aubrey Fuchs, who was also an agent.He represented 2 footwear companies for most of his working career – women’s footwear manufactur ...moreAI-generated images of a Birkin bag show just how iconic and widely recognized its design has become. Even AI knows its distinctive look!
01 January 2025 – Walmart, America’s retail powerhouse, has disrupted the fashion industry with the “Wirkin Bag,” a budget-friendly alternative to Hermès’ iconic Birkin bag. Officially called the Kamugo Genuine Leather Handbag, the Wirkin has captivated social media, offering luxury aesthetic ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Pathology of ‘double scale’ skin defect in farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and the possible association with hepatic fibrosisIlaria M Piras 1, Annemarie Bezuidenhout 2, Josué Díaz-Delgado 3 4, Deirdre Slawski 2, Pamela A Kelly 1 Affiliations1University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.2Padenga Holdings Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe.3Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Statio ...moreISTT launches online courses for international marketGrahamstown, E. Cape, SA – This year, the International School of Tanning Technology will become just that – international – and our first 2 foreign customers have signed up before we launch.All our courses have been redeveloped for online tuition.Given the shock announcement last year that the University of Northampton ...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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Fostering safety through commitment by empowering workforce development and lifelong dedication
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (24 October 2024) – Workplace safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a fundamental aspect of organisational health and success. At its core lies commitment—a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the well-being of employees. When commitment permeates an organisation, it creates a culture ...moreFunctionally integrated lightweight design in electric mobility: EV battery enclosures with lower carbon emissions
Chemnitz, Germany (02 September 2024) – More charging power, higher range, lower environmental impact: In the COOLBat joint research project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have teamed up with partners to develop next-generation battery enclosures for electric vehicles. Th ...moreMastering contractor management for safety, business efficiency and growth in the mining industry
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (13 November 2024) – The mining industry operates in a complex and demanding environment characterised by rapid technological advancements, stringent safety regulations, and escalating cost pressures. To compete in this context successfully, mining executives must prioritise operational efficiency, cost-eff ...more
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