S&V African Leather Magazine Vol18 No8 August 2024
Click the advert links for more info. • Download PDF








IN THIS ISSUE:
02 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
04 Upfront
- ‘Stable to positive’ – the ostrich leather industry is doing well, writes Cape Karoo International MD Francois de Wet.
- Poor market for sheepskins, but hides remain steady: Cape Produce Company MD Greg Feinberg answers our questions.
06 An Eclectic View
- Job cards: An old concept, increasingly digitised, and still an essential work tool, writes correspondent H. Procter.
09 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- There are many benefits to working with us, writes the Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor.
- Celebrities to judge the Leather & Hide Council of America’s Real Leather. Stay Different blog competition.
13 Technology
- Stahl extends its EleGrade portfolio of high-end leather upgrading solutions.
14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
15 Notice Board
- CPC’s Benjy Lapiner turns 75.
- Tannery Environmental Consultancy Services’ Roger Rowswell has died.
15 Agriculture
- Update on outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Eastern Cape.
- Organised agriculture organization TLU says first meeting with new Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen ‘positive and constructive’.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (08), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (12), Mimosa (03), Rolfes Leather Division (05), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (11), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (02), Stahl/Elegrade (OFC), Sustainable Leather Foundation (10).
The Next Issue
- The September issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 20 September. The deadline for contributions is 16 September.
- Ostrich: ‘Stable to positive’ – the good days continueMossel Bay, W. Cape, SA – We are now nearly 5 years down the line, since the KKI and Mosstrich/SCOT merger. The new name Cape Karoo International (CKI) is now well known among all international and local buyers of ostrich leather. Our clients across the globe also have switched now to “CKI” as the new brand, understandin ...moreJob CardsJob cards – are these bureaucratic pieces of paperwork worth anything? The tracking of work, quality control indicators, dates and timing, and non-conformance can be tagged onto this tool and production control and monitoring can be greatly enhanced. The job card can be historical and diagnostic.Can a tannery run production without ...moreThe Benefits of Working with SLF…Recent articles that we have written for S&V have focussed in on specific topics, for example greenwashing, or having an industry voice. This month we’re taking the opportunity to remind readers about the work that SLF does to support the leather industry across many interlocking areas to provide value for organisations. ...moreCelebrity panel to judge ‘Real Leather’ competitionWashington, DC, U.S. (16 August 2024) – The promotional blog Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD), funded by the Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) to promote U.S. leather internationally, organises an annual international student design competition. It has issued the following release: ...moreEleGrade: High-end leather upgrading solutionsWaalwijk, the Netherlands (12 August 2024) – Stahl, a leading provider of speciality coatings and treatments for flexible substrates, has recently extended its EleGrade® portfolio of high-end leather upgrading solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets.Leather upgrading solutions are key to maximisin ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humour" You can’t help those who don’t help themselvesThe International Trade Centre in Geneva spent a large amount of money in order to analyse the leather value chain in Mongolia. An extensive value chain study was made from the raising of the animals up to the finished product. The ITC presented a strategy proposal to the Go ...morePoor market for sheepskins, hides steadyDialogue with Cape Produce Co. MD Greg FeinbergAre there any issues with sheepskins in terms of quality and availability?Quality and availability are both relatively steady (based on the usual seasonal variations). The primary issues on both lines are market related (demand vs supply) with both Merinos and Dorpers experiencing unpreceden ...moreUpdate on outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Eastern CapePretoria, Gauteng, SA (08 August 2024) – Following the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma Municipalities of the Eastern Cape, the Department of Agriculture is committed to providing ongoing updates and ensuring effective measures are in place to manage the situation.Engagement with Farmers an ...moreTLU SA & John Steenhuisen: A positive and constructive conversationTLU SA had positive and constructive discussions with the new Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on Tuesday morning.TLU SA attended the meeting this morning alongside other organisations where the main challenges in the agricultural industry were discussed. Steenhuisen welcomed the representatives and immediately addressed four ke ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Can reduced VAT revitalize France’s shoe repair craft?The French parliament has recently reduced VAT on repairs for shoes, leather goods, textiles, and bicycles from 20% to 5.5%, a move expected to support sustainability, local artisans, and potentially revitalize a declining industry. This decision, reported by World Footwear on November 6, 2024, raises questions about its potenti ...moreAMSA: ‘Perturbing trend’ in importsDurban, KZN, SA – As the economy still seems to be precariously poised due to various exogenous variables, I remain very cautious about looking into the future.The formal sector of the economy has not fared well in terms of employment as measured by Clothing Industry Bargaining Council figures (see attached chart).It appears that th ...more2025 FORECASTSBy common consent, 2024 has been a difficult year for almost all businesses, organisations, government departments and people in the SA leather value chain. The main exceptions would have been successful exporters, because the domestic market has been getting poorer year after year. The underlying reasons are mostly to do with the policie ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Agency company changesCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Gert Bosch and Arné Husselman left TST Agencies earlier this year.Bosch started Bosch Technical Services (Pty) Ltd (BTS), which began trading on 01 March, servicing the tanning industry. He represents a number of principals including some formerly represented by TST.Husselman has left the industry and ...moreHide demand steady amid growing global supply, gelatine plants absorbing higher number of lower gradesThe picture I get of the leather industry globally is that it is losing share in all its markets for a variety of reasons. In South Africa, the situation is compounded by cash-strapped consumers choosing cheaper alternatives. Cape Produce Company is at the beginning of the leather process, and it supplies all leather markets in SA and internationally. I asked CEO Benjy Lapiner if the picture is as bleak as I’m told. No, he said, but… ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourIt’s the middle-class market, not the rich, where the real money isAlthough I fully realise that luxury is a very important factor for the leather industry, I believe that we focus too much on this particular sector, and forget the day-to-day use of leather. There aren’t too many people who can afford a €100 000 bag, a &e ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Standard socks could shock: The hidden danger in anti-static work environmentsPinetown, KZN, SA – In any environment where the build-up of static electricity has been determined to be a risk, anti-static footwear must be worn. Anti-static footwear is designed to help dissipate the accumulation of static electricity from the body while still providing a reasonable level of resistance to electrical hazards from ...moreHow dangerous is Radon?Radon is estimated to cause 3% to 14% percent of all lung cancer cases in the world, depending on where you live and how much radon you are exposed to.Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible and odourless gas that enters homes and workplaces unnoticed. It can pose a serious health risk at elevated levels for a prolonged period. But what ...moreMitigate risks and enhance efficiency - the ISO accreditation advantageDurban, KZN, SA (11 September 2024) – ISO accreditation is a strategic investment that empowers businesses to enhance their competitiveness, mitigate risks, and seize new market opportunities. By adhering to globally recognised standards, organisations can build trust, streamline operations, and achieve sustainable growth. While the ...more
© S&V Publications