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. ...more
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Footwear Industry Articles
- A perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...moreTshepo 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 ...moreSAFLEC AGM 2026: A year marked by resilience
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to welcome all our members and stakeholders to the 24th Annual General Meeting of the South African Leather & Footwear Export Council (SAFLEC).The Annual General Meeting provides us with an opportunity not only to reflect on the performance of the Council over the past financial y ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- OBLIQUITY
Shareholder value is usually the result of running a good business, not a reliable operational principle for running one ...moreWhen communication moves faster than truth: Why credible, evidence-based information matters more than ever.We have never had more information at our fingertips. We have also never had to work quite so hard to determine which information we should trust. Communication today moves at extraordinary speed. Social media platforms, digital news, corporate communications, industry reports and, increasingly, artificial intelligence allow information t ...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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Protecting 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 ...morePerformance testing: Building credibility in the modern apparel and footwear market
The lines between protective wear, sportswear, outdoor apparel, wellness clothing and everyday fashion continue to blur. Consumers increasingly expect garments and footwear to deliver more than style alone. Whether purchasing workwear, running apparel, outdoor footwear, school shoes or everyday casual products, buyers now look for comfort ...moreIndoor air quality monitoring: protecting people, processes, and productivity in South Africa
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming an increasingly important topic across South Africa as industries place greater focus on occupational safety, environmental controls, and operational reliability. While air quality concerns were once mainly associated with mining, heavy industry, or healthcare environments, businesses across multiple s ...more
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