S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No8 August 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Mr Price Sport: ‘Brands small – but important – part of our business’, says MD Anthony Findlay.
- Plastics manufacturer Igus and e-bike manufacturer Advanced Bikes develop first recyclable plastic bicycle frame.
- Arena Trims moves.
05 Export & Trade
- SAFLEC AGM: Trade with SACU down, trade with non-African world up, leather the star performer, finances a concern – a mixed year, but ‘expect the recovery after the storm’.
08 Profile
- Cape Town’s extended Gottardo clan: Multiple businesses and a shared passion for leather, from bags to furniture.
14 Government’s Master Plans
- Alternative to master plans isn’t anarchy, says Dr Morné Malan of the Free Market Foundation.
14 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Drip Footwear’s financial crisis – a cautionary tale.
20 Technology
- Huntsman to launch new footwear soling for running, hiking and safety.
20 Financial Results
- Vans is still in freefall, ‘but VF Corporation’s rate of decline has moderated’.
- Second half improvement for Rip Curl and Kathmandu owner KMD Brands.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group (OFC), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), FrontierCo/Busby (06), Haesloop Agencies (10), Kaytex Belts (12), Leather Finishing Products (16), Saddler Belts (04), SAFLEC (07), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (21), Shotland Packing (14).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 18 September 2024.
- Plastics manufacturer develops first recyclable plastic bicycle frame
Midrand, Gauteng, SA (31 July 2024) – Industrial polymer developer and manufacturer, igus, has developed the first injection-moulded polymer bicycle frame designed for advanced bikes, a milestone in sustainable mobility. igus collaborated with German e-bike manufacturer Advanced Bikes to create a bicycle frame made entirely of recyc ...moreSAFLEC AGM – ‘recovery after the storm’
Sponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC). Durban, KZN, SA – This year’s SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) AGM – the 22nd – was a much smaller occasion than in previous years, an acknowledgement of a reduced budget. It was, however, quite upbeat. ...moreAn extended family with multiple businesses, and a shared passion
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – It’s a complicated leather dynasty covering 2 generations and 6 family members (so far), mixed heritages, and 4 varied businesses which have 2 things in common – they use leather, and they rely on design creativity to produce saleable products.Tiziano Gottardo and his son from his third marriage, ...moreDrip Footwear’s financial crisis - a cautionary tale
Rapid Expansion BackfiresDrip Footwear, a once-promising South African sneaker brand, is facing a severe financial crisis that has sparked intense scrutiny and debate. The company’s rapid expansion into shopping malls has backfired spectacularly, leaving it with a R20 million debt, a foreign exchange blunder, and the looming threat ...moreMr Price Sport: ‘Brands small – but important – part of our business’Durban, KZN, SA – Mr Price Sport will continue to look for opportunities to carry branded products, MD Anthony Findlay says.“Brands make up 10% to 15% of our merchandise, which may be small, but it’s an important part of the selection.”Through a collab with the SA distributor of U.S. brand Everlast, which is associ ...moreAlternative to master plan is not anarchyNote: This article is about the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition’s master plans as a concept, not about the R-CTFL Master Plan specifically. ...moreHuntsman to launch new footwear soling for running, hiking and safety.The Woodlands, Texas, U.S. – Huntsman’s Polyurethanes business will launch a ‘gripping’ new soling development for the footwear industry at the NW Materials Show at the end of August.The new portfolio of high performing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products is aimed at footwear brands producing running, hiking ...moreVans still in freefall, ‘but VF rate of decline moderated’VF Corporation reports first quarter fiscal 2025 results and reiterates FY25 free cash flow guidanceDenver, U.S. (06 August 2024) - VF Corporation today reported financial results for its first quarter (Q1'FY25) ended June 29, 2024, announcing a quarterly per share dividend of $0.09.Bracken Darrell, President and CEO, said: "As I com ...moreRip Curl, Kathmandu owner KMD Brands preliminary result: Second half improvementChristchurch, New Zealand (20 August 2024) – KMD Brands Limited provides the following unaudited preliminary results for the year ending 31 July 2024 (“FY24”): Rip Curl and Kathmandu sales have shown continued improvement on first half sales trends during both the third and fourth quarters of FY24, as outlined below. ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Puma: Holding on to its market gains – just – planning more local production, but a declining independent retailer sector
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Puma – along with Adidas, its arch rival here, globally and in their joint hometown, Herzogenaurach – has a long history in South Africa.Next year marks 25 years of Puma Sports SA (Pty) Ltd as a wholly owned subsidiary of Puma SE, following a decade or more under licensee Jagsports. “It&rsq ...moreWhy sneakers are taking over airline uniforms
Bangkok Airways and Puma are breaking new ground, giving cabin crew and ground staff custom sneakers made from about 30% recycled materials. Sure, it’s a small uniform change — but it’s a big signal. Comfort is no longer a perk; it’s part of a brand’s identity. And when pioneers make the move, other airl ...moreKnock out the knockoffs: Protecting your brand against imitationsCounterfeiting is no longer confined to imitation designer goods sold in back-alley markets. It has become a widespread and organised trade that threatens fair competition and the rights of legitimate businesses. At its simplest, counterfeiting means the deliberate manufacture and sale of goods calculated to resemble genuine branded produ ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- PEPTIDE MANUFACTURE
Purchasing a 25 kg hide for the purposes of manufacturing a bit of leather used to be a pretty inefficient process. Consulting the 1999 paper (by UNIDO) showed the industry that 60-70% of that 25 kg is water, leaving collagen, keratin, glycosaminoglycans, fat, and a few minor components. The hair, epidermis, and fat are removed to leave a ...moreKey changes in TFL´s leadership team
Langenfeld, Germany – Kaija Korolainen was appointed Group Chief People Officer (CPO) on 01 July and Samer Al Jabi was appointed Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) on 01 September.Kaija has a strong track record of strategic HR leadership across multiple industries and geographies. At TFL, she is responsible for ...moreISTT updates tannery wastewater treatment course
Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA – Following the registration of Australian students, and as part of its conversion to a distance education/online international leather training provider, the International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) has updated its tannery wastewater treatment course.In conjunction with Johan Barnard’s Enviro ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Prioritising air quality is prioritising health
When we think about ‘healthy buildings’, healthcare facilities need to be to the healthiest of them all. Today, hospital operators require facilities that are sustainable, efficient, resilient and provide the best experience and care to both patients and staff.At the top of the non-negotiable list for any healthy building shou ...moreNot an afterthought – integrating healthcare technology at the very beginning
Today’s modern healthcare facilities have, respectfully, moved beyond bricks, mortar and medical equipment to now include infrastructure that embeds intelligence and resilience, providing the foundation for safer, smarter and patient-centric healthcare environment.In fact, the medical industry is making truly remarkable gains when i ...moreUpdated safety footwear standards: No clarity after marathon meetingPretoria, Gauteng, SA – South African safety footwear manufacturers and importers will have to wait until 08 October to get answers from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) after a 3-hour, 30-minute Microsoft Teams ‘stakeholder meeting’ on 11September overran its timeslot – and that was afte ...more
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