S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No10 October 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Interview
- Bata SA is making a renewed effort to grow more brands with chains, says new country manager Lorraine Dyer.
11 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Younger generation decides Puma’s strategic direction on leather.
- Can Uber Eats help Allbirds turn a profit?
- Timberland returns to India after exiting in 2015.
12 The R-CTFL Masterplan
- Clusters were ‘very successful’ says IDC. New clusters ‘likely’, but no details yet.
14 Sustainability
- Archroma ‘breakthrough’ in bio-based textile printing for ‘brilliant black’.
16 Out of the mainstream
- Pretoria small business Oh Sole plans own hands-on manufacturing to supply retailers.
20 Export & Trade
- Global footwear trends and the impact of evolving consumer behaviour on exports, by Nerisha Jairaj of SAFLEC.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (13), BBF Safety Group (04, 09), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), FrontierCo/Busby (08), Fusion Leather World (03), Haesloop Agencies (17), Kaliber Safety Footwear/For the Motor Industry/Safety Boots (06, 11), Kaytex Belts (19), Leather Finishing Products (15), Palm Footwear (OFC), Saddler Belts (05), SAFLEC (20), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (21), Shotland Packaging (22).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 20 November 2024.
- Bata SA: Renewed effort to grow brands with chains
Bubblegummers to be ‘a priority product’Durban, KZN, SA – Broadening Bata South Africa’s brand base is a priority – perhaps the priority – for country manager Lorraine Dyer, who joined in August with a background managing apparel brands including Converse and Calvin Klein.That has been the goal under su ...moreYounger generation decides Puma’s strategic direction on leather
Puma’s recent decision to significantly reduce leather usage in its footwear is a clear reflection of the evolving landscape of the fashion industry, driven primarily by the preferences of the younger generation. Gen Y, Z, and Alpha, who collectively make up around 65% of the U.S. population, are increasingly pri ...moreCan Uber Eats help Allbirds turn a profit?
Allbirds, the sustainable footwear brand, has made a strategic move by partnering with Uber Eats, despite facing significant financial struggles. The company continues to prioritize sustainability in every aspect, from its products to logistics, and this collaboration further highlights that commitment. Throu ...moreTimberland returns to India after exiting in 2015
Initial Exit and Market StrugglesAccording to Livemint, Timberland, famous for its hiking boots and outdoor gear, withdrew from the Indian market in 2015 after struggling to establish a foothold. The primary reason for its exit was fierce competition from Woodland, a Canadian-founded footwear brand that entered India in 1992 and domi ...moreClusters ‘very successful’, IDC says
As part of the R-CTFL Masterplan, the Industrial Development Corporation funded 2 ‘subnational clusters’ to enhance local manufacturing capabilities. In Durban, the Mr Price Cluster involved Labora Shoes and Smiley’s Footwear, and in Pietermaritzburg, Eddels was the manufacturing partner in the Foschini Cluster. Both are being wound up. Tshepo Ramodibe, IDC Head of Corporate Affairs, replies to S&V’s questions. ...moreArchroma ‘breakthrough’ in bio-based textile printing for ‘brilliant black’
Pratteln, Switzerland (14 October 2024) – Archroma has introduced the NTR Printing System to make bio-based pigment printing commercially possible for the first time. Based on renewable raw materials* and designed for safer chemistry, it helps apparel and textile brands reduce their environmental footprint while producing brilliant ...moreOh Sole: Handmade with a machine finish – and no stinting on components
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Yes, they’re both arty, but there’s almost no connection between cutting hair and cutting patterns. So for Conrad Kalp, who started his working life as a hair stylist, fashion, specifically fashion footwear, was a strong enough calling to start studying all over again to enter an entirely new care ...moreGlobal footwear trends and the impact of evolving consumer behaviour on exportsSponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC).The worldwide footwear sector is experiencing notable changes driven by technology advancements, evolving fashion trends, and shifting consumer preferences. Below are the significant trends and shifts in consumer purchasing habits.Current Trends in Footwear1. Emphasis on s ...more
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Footwear Industry Articles
- An industry with distinctive material riches, unable to sufficiently convert them into finished goods in a world class way“The project’s purpose,” said Courtney Grant, “is to be a robust, evidence-based strategy to address the leather and general goods sector’s challenges and unlock its growth potential.”The main headings of her presentation were:Creating the groundwork for a National Leather and General Goods Strategy:Fro ...moreManufacturer-buyer event: Among the manufacturer comments
The 2-day Retail Buyer Engagement & Manufacturer Onboarding Programme on 01 and 02 July was part of an effort to kickstart the R-CTFL Masterplan – which, from a footwear perspective at least, has appeared stalled.It was sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and implemented through the R-CTFL Masterplan Footwea ...moreComrades Expo 2026
Durban, KZN, SA – The exhibitor list at the Comrades Expo, from 11-13 June, has shown an evolution in the types of companies exhibiting. Just 1 running footwear supplier, Ikhambi Distribution, promoting its Hoka brand, was there.Technical sock suppliers, however, were well represented, with Balega, Falke, Sox Footwear and The Hirst ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Nigeria’s Leather Industry: Not a clear picture
Nigeria is widely accepted as having a very large livestock population, but a relatively small tanning industry, much of it concentrated in Kano, producing high grade goat- and sheepskin crust which is exported for finishing elsewhere for use in garments.Recent articles cast some doubt on this, so are Nigeria’s hides and skins: M ...moreWorld first - compost: Possible, desirable, not necessarily simple
The world of compostable leather is not as historically accurate as the industry would like it to be. The definition of leather is: “hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible (rot-proof). Hair or wool may or may not have been removed, and the material can include split layers or ...moreFifteen million sheep in the UK to share among shearersAccording to the UK government, its sheep population decreased over the past year by 1.7% but that still leaves a flock of over 30 million. For comparison, the domestic flock in South Africa numbers about 21 million and New Zealand has some 23 million. Australia, with more than 70 million, has a wool clip of approximately 325,000 tonnes. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- More precise fire extinguishing from the air using simulation and sensor data
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense worldwide. Fires often become infernos due to heat, drought and wind, especially in the summer. The problem is compounded by the climate crisis. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM and the startup CAURUS Technologies GmbH are responding to this growi ...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 ...moreSAPEMA demands action against retailer Curve Gear over selling noncompliant safety footwearThe Southern African Protective Equipment Marketing Association (SAPEMA) has reported retailer Curve Gear to the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) for selling “possibly noncompliant” safety footwear.The allegation is because Curve Gear’s safety footwear doesn’t carry mandatory marking: Its NRCS app ...more
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