S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol90 No11 November 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Forecasts
- SAFLIA: Hopefully, the slide in local manufacturing will be reversed, writes executive director Jirka Vymĕtal.
- SAFLEC: The road ahead requires leadership, writes executive director Nerisha Jairaj.
- AMSA: There’s a perturbing trend in imports, writes executive director Paul Theron.
- NCRF: Making the R-CTFL Masterplan work is a very complicated stew, writes executive director Michael Lawrence.
09 School Shoes
- Grasshoppers Trooper is the first school shoe in SA to acquire BanzFeet Gold Certification.
11 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- AI is putting an end to counterfeit sneakers.
- Can reduced VAT revitalize France’s shoe repair craft?
- How Asics expansion in non-metro India supports local growth and echoes BRICS aspirations.
17 Noticeboard
- Obituary: Shan Pillay, the quiet, ever-present photographer.
- Obituary: Mike Lambrakis, the complete shoemaker – and golfer.
- Durability: A pair of Millana court shoes, 42 years on!
- Crime: Former United Fram factory scene of multiple murders.
Advertisers in this Issue
APLF/Materials+ 2025 (10), Arena Trims (20), Berzack Brothers (02), BBF Safety Group (08, 12), Bolton Footwear/Grasshoppers (04), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (06), FrontierCo/Busby (03), Haesloop Agencies (22), Kaliber Safety Footwear/For the Motor Industry/Safety Boots (14, 16), Kaytex Belts (26), Leather Finishing Products (24), Palm Footwear (OFC), Saddler Belts (07), SAFLEC (09), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (23), Shotland Packaging (22).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 22 January 2025. Deadline for submissions 15 January.
- SAFLIA: Hopefully the slide will be reversed
Durban, KZN, SA – My forecast for 2024 is that production will be 12.5% down on last year. Meaning 41,690,000 pairs.The last time we saw such low volumes was in 2007.My forecast for next year is that production will be stabilised at the same level as this year – let’s say 42,000,000 pairs. However, with some serious inte ...moreThe Road Ahead: A forecast for South Africa’s footwear and leather goods industries
Durban, KZN, SA – The South African footwear and leather goods industries are navigating a challenging yet potentially transformative period. Shaped by a mix of longstanding hurdles and emerging opportunities, their future remains uncertain as the global market continues to shift rapidly in the wake of COVID-19. While difficulties p ...moreAMSA: ‘Perturbing trend’ in imports
Durban, 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 ...moreNCRF: ‘A very complicated stew’
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – The NCRF has 10 members with very different approaches to all sorts of things, so a forecast is difficult.We’re keeping an eye on factors including reduced interest rates, the two-pot retirement system, and political outcomes, and there is a degree of optimism, but I’m not willing to attach any f ...moreAI is putting an end to counterfeit sneakers
Osmo’s AI-powered scent authentication machine in action, revolutionizing the fight against counterfeit sneakers by detecting unique chemical profiles with remarkable precision.As the sneaker resale market continues to boom, counterfeit goods remain a persistent concern for both luxury and mass-market brands. Counterfeiters have bec ...moreCan 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 ...moreHow Asics expansion in non-metro India supports local growth and echoes BRICS aspirations
Japanese sportswear brand Asics is making notable progress in expanding into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to meet the rising demand for athleisure outside major metro areas. According to Economic Times, by the end of 2024, Asics plans to operate 120 stores across the country, driven by a surge in e-commerce sales from non-m ...moreThe Complete Shoemaker – and Golfer
Obituary: Michael Lambrakis – Scotts Group, Frame Group, Poly-Soles, OG Footwear, Kalistos Footwear, Lambella Footwear, Andreoli Shoes, ShoePairMarket (04/04/1945-20/09/2024) ...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 ...moreGrasshoppers Trooper, first school shoe in South Africa to acquire the prestigious Banzi Feet Gold CertificationThe journey of BanziFeet began in 2015 with research to compare the foot measurements of German and South African children and adolescents. Research revealed significant differences in foot shape and size between the 2 groups. It also found that 91% of South African participants grew up habitually barefoot, and 67% of their school shoes w ...moreObituary: Shan Pillay – Eddels, Jaguar Shoes, Divine Shoes (19/01/1936-28/05/2024) The quiet, ever-present photographerPietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – In the first place, my deepest condolences to Nellandran and Pritha and Uncle Shan’s five grandchildren. His passing on, as I’m sure you know, is not just a loss to your immediate and extended family and his close friends and colleagues, including in the media sector – but to all of us i ...moreFootwear 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 ...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. ...moreObituary: Shan Pillay – Eddels, Jaguar Shoes, Divine Shoes (19/01/1936-28/05/2024) The quiet, ever-present photographerPietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – In the first place, my deepest condolences to Nellandran and Pritha and Uncle Shan’s five grandchildren. His passing on, as I’m sure you know, is not just a loss to your immediate and extended family and his close friends and colleagues, including in the media sector – but to all of us i ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- LULUC: Explaining the link between deforestation and the leather industry
Land use and land use change (LULUC) refers to the study area in general – that is the study of how global land use change (commonly through human intervention) results in increased atmospheric emissions. The obvious emission is that if the forest is burnt, the emissions are directly released into the atmosphere. However, the change ...moreHide demand steady amid growing global supply, gelatine plants absorbing higher number of lower grades
The 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… ...moreGroenewald returns to OPSA
Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA – Newald Groenewald rejoined Ostrich Products SA (OPSA) in September as tannery manager.He started at the then Klein Karoo International in 1991 before joining OPSA as tannery manager in 2015. He joined Le Croc as tannery manager in 2021, and left there earlier this year. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- How 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 ...moreFostering safety through commitment by empowering workforce development and lifelong dedication
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (24 October 2024) – Workplace safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a fundamental aspect of organisational health and success. At its core lies commitment—a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the well-being of employees. When commitment permeates an organisation, it creates a culture ...moreMBA North members place in top 4 of every category in MBSA National Safety Competition – again
Master Builders Association North (MBA North) members have continued their multi-year winning streak by being placed in the top four of every category in the 2024 Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) National Safety Competition (NSC) – the flagship event for health and safety in the building industry.Gerhard Roets, Health and Safety ...more
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