S&V African Leather Magazine Vol19 No5 May 2025
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
05 Upfront
- Country hides and skins: Changed markets for a forgotten source.
- Ethiopia’s Modjo Leather Manufacturing Hub aims to boost exports.
10 An Eclectic View
- Determining the product environmental footprint of ostrich leather is a priority for South African ostrich tanneries, says correspondent H. Procter.
13 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- Can incoming legislation bring opportunities for Africa? asks the Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor.
14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
15 Noticeboard
- UK Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists annual conference, AGM and dinner dance.
16 Agriculture
- SA Agriculture Minister ‘demands immediate action’ to curb FMD spread.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (09), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (11), Mimosa (04), Rolfes Leather Division (02), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (12), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (05), Stahl (OFC), Sustainable Leather Foundation (07).
The Next Issue
- The June 2025 issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 04 June. The deadline for contributions is 28 May.
- Country hides and skins: Changed markets for a forgotten source
Changes in the global leather market have impacted most on the bottom rung of the leather value chain – ‘country’ hides and skins. This was starkly illustrated when S&V African Leather received a call from someone in the Eastern Cape who had previously made a living collecting them for sale to agents acting on behalf of hide and skin collectors. The agents were still there, he said, but they weren’t interested in buying what he had to offer. Where should he look?rnrn A call to trader Gareth Diesel in East London, who works for and with Elliott Brothers and its subsidiary, East London Abattoir, confirmed that market had died in the province.rnrn He suggested we ask Greg Feinberg, MD of SA’s biggest hide and skin trader, pickler and wet blue tannery, Cape Produce Company, for ‘the bigger picture’. ...moreEthiopia’s Modjo Leather Manufacturing Hub aims to boost exports
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (12 April 2025) – The Modjo state-of-the art leather manufacturing facility and a renovated satellite laboratory are intended to spearhead Ethiopia's leather industry and foster sustainable employment opportunities.The project is a collaborative initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by t ...moreCan incoming legislation bring opportunities for Africa?
As global markets adopt stricter environmental, human rights and ethical regulations—particularly in the European Union—the African leather industry faces a pivotal moment. While new legislation around sustainability, traceability, and labour rights introduces compliance challenges, it also opens doors for African producers to access higher-value international markets. ...moreUK Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists annual conference, AGM and dinner dance
The annual Conference, AGM and Dinner Dance of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists took place on 25-26th April in Glasgow.This year, there was a 2-day programme that included a field trip to Scottish Leather Group on the afternoon of Day 1, when 30 delegates had the opportunity to learn about SLG’s heritage and world l ...moreBack to off? - Sam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourOur industry has been submitted for years to the unrealistic and ideological EU sustainability directives, mainly pushed by Dutch ex-EU commissioner Frans Timmermans, who, not happy with the damage he has done in the EU, now tries to ruin the political atmosphere in his own country. These directives have more to do with ideology than with ...moreWorld Leather Day… - Sam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourLeather Naturally again promoted World Leather Day, and luckily for its members they provided a social media kit, which people could use for participating in the promotion. Like last year this initiative is not a global leather industry initiative but a promotional action by LN, supported by LWG and SLF as described in the mentioned &ldqu ...moreDetermining the product environmental footprint of ostrich leatherA priority for SA’s ostrich tanneries ...moreSA’s Agriculture Minister ‘demands immediate action’ to curb FMD spreadPretoria, Gauteng, SA (16 April 2025) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, requested the Department of Agriculture to urgently give attention to the needed action plans and steps to ensure inroads are made to effectively curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kwazulu-Natal.During a recent visit to KwaZulu-Nat ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Swedish retailer wanted to ensure its European suppliers were a better fit than Far East – SGS assessment programme raised standards of Macedonian supplier
Geneva, Switzerland (16 May 2025) – A partnership between testing, inspection and certification company SGS and luxury goods retailer, Shepherd of Sweden, has led to a transformation in footwear quality, reduced waste and increased production from one of the Swedish company’s principal European suppliers.Known for its hig ...moreGrowing trend in the East towards factories staffed entirely by robots – rest of the world ‘being left behind’'While Europe is still focused on Industry 4.0, Asia is already gearing up for Industry 5.0, which emphasizes autonomy over mere connectivity.' ...moreBack in the day: When overseas travel was a real trip
Back in the day, the 1980s and 90s, before the time of cell phones and the internet, all design and marketing teams in the South African footwear industry had to visit the fairs and shop windows in Paris, Frankfurt, Bologna and Alicante in person to see the various new product releases from the design houses.This happened over a 3-week pe ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Isihlangu
The skill used for making these historical shields is slowly being lost and should be a national heritage priority for Southern African tanners to relearn the skills and to ensure that the craft continues ...moreEthiopia’s Modjo Leather Manufacturing Hub aims to boost exportsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia (12 April 2025) – The Modjo state-of-the art leather manufacturing facility and a renovated satellite laboratory are intended to spearhead Ethiopia's leather industry and foster sustainable employment opportunities.The project is a collaborative initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by t ...moreGet the message across on World Leather Day, urges Leather Working Group
On Saturday 26th April 2025, the global leather industry will come together in recognition of the fourth edition of World Leather Day—a global movement dedicated to celebrating leather as a material and promoting a deeper understanding of the leather industry. This social media kit can be used by Leather Naturally members and i ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Lengthy detentions: That’s just the way it is, says NCCS&V Protect asked the National Consumer Commission to comment on Treadsafe’s experience, and also whether other containers have been detained. Jabu Mbeje, Divisional Head: Enforcement & Legal Services, at the NCC, sent this response: ...moreA partnership for inclusion: Circular Energy and Bradshaw LeRoux join forces for disability inclusionCircular Energy is partnering with Bradshaw LeRoux, a disability inclusion specialists organisation, to forge a disability-positive workplace. ...moreWHO targets 15 countries for elimination of sleeping sickness by 2030
A project is underway to eradicate ‘neglected tropical diseases’ (NTDs) in Africa.Among them is sleeping sickness, also known as nagana in domestic and wild animals.Sleeping sickness, known medically as human African trypanosomiasis, is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies, and is endemic in sub-S ...more
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