S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No9 September 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- International fast fashion retailer H&M, which does source some raw materials from SA, says it is serious about sustainability and about talking to local manufacturers about sourcing finished goods.
- Small West African state Benin is making branded garments for export.
- Management changes at Bata SA.
11 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Clarks’ Indian departure – what went wrong?
- Investor lawsuit hits Lulelemon.
- Comfort is what the market is demanding.
19 Export & Trade
- Italian Trade Agency sponsors SA visit to Milan fairs.
21 Noticeboard
- SAFLIA AGM marks the organisation’s 80th anniversary.
- National Bargaining Council bids farewell to outgoing general secretary Gerald Naidoo.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (20), BBF Safety Group (04), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), FrontierCo/Busby (09), Haesloop Agencies (14), Kaliber Safety Footwear/For the Motor Industry/Safety Boots (06, 08), Kaytex Belts (12), Leather Finishing Products (16), Lemaitre (10), Palm Footwear (OFC), Saddler Belts (07), SAFLEC (13), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (17), Shotland Packaging (18).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 25 October 2024.
- ‘We have and will continue to investigate sourcing opportunities for apparel’
Several SA raw materials make it into H&M’s value chain, but so far, no finished goods ...moreManagement changes at Bata SA
Durban, KZN, SA – Bata SA country manager Michael Wyatt has been promoted to president of Bata Africa-Middle East and Bata Industrials.The new Bata SA country manager is Lorraine Dyer, who has over 20 years retail and wholesale experience in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.In a release, Bata SA said “her track re ...moreClarks’ Indian departure — what went wrong?
A report from Yahoo Finance on August 27, 2024, reveals that Clarks, the iconic British footwear brand, is closing its stores in India due to "differences over terms" with its local partner, Reliance Retail.This unexpected development underscores the critical importance of aligning with local partners and effectively m ...moreComfort is what the market is demanding
Expansion AnnouncementOrthoLite, a leading manufacturer of comfort foam insoles, has announced it is expanding its European facility in Almansa, Spain. This strategic move aims to enhance production capacity, innovation, and speed-to-market manufacturing, enabling OrthoLite to better serve its brand partners ...moreItalian Trade Agency sponsors SA visit to Milan fairs
This September, SAFLEC, accompanied by a group of trailblazing members funded by the Italian Trade Agency, made a significant and impactful presence at Simac Tanning Tech, Lineapelle, Micam, and Milan Fashion Week.More than a routine industry visit, this participation was a strategic initiative designed to gather high-level intelligence a ...moreBenin begins exporting U.S. branded garments to EuropeZè, Benin (11 September 2024) – Benin, which along with Togo is a small Francophone state sandwiched between Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa, has exported its first consignment of clothing under the American brand, U.S. POLO ASSN.In a release, Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) (www.GDIZ-Benin.com) said: “Th ...moreInvestor lawsuit hits LululemonLululemon Athletica Inc. is currently facing a class action lawsuit filed by a shareholder who claims the company misled investors by failing to disclose critical information about its business operations. This lawsuit involves individuals and entities who purchased Lululemon securities between December 7, 2023, and July 24, 2024.The Alle ...more
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Footwear Industry Articles
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brand
Durban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...moreBova Socks: The PPE layer that works inside the boot
In demanding work environments, safety footwear plays a critical role in helping workers manage workplace risks. However, the sock worn inside the boot also influences comfort, hygiene, fit and overall performance throughout the shift. This makes Bova’s sock range an essential part of a complete PPE solution.Bova high-performance so ...moreThe showroom pair is not the orderA shoe on a showroom table is wonderfully persuasive. A buyer can flex the forefoot, press the heel counter, check the stitching, compare the two shoes and turn the pair over to examine the sole. Colour, finish and hand feel are all there to judge.The purchase order may then reduce that pair to a short line: one style number, one colour d ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Luxury or notWe hear from all sides that the leather industry is not doing too well and the conflict in the Middle East is definitely not improving the situation. The present wars have a huge impact on inflation and hence on the buying power of consumers with negative consequences for the luxury industry whose shares we have seen tumbling at the vario ...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 ...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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- China-made firefighting equipment now needs verification of conformity with SANS standardsPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Firefighting equipment is among the 25 product categories published on 01 April by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for a mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme.The system will require certain goods shipped from China to be tested and certified before they enter the ...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 ...moreFurther controls over the import of safety footwear are on the wayOn 03 August 2026, the Safety Footwear Working Group, led by SAFLIA, submitted a request to Minister Tau (dtic) for interim import control measures in respect of specified safety footwear. The request was strongly supported by organised labour and other industry stakeholders.The application was further strengthened by contributions f ...more
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