S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol91 No5 May 2025
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Some ideas to stimulate a recovery in local footwear and leather goods manufacturing.
09 Trends
- Boat shoes: Sales finally climbing in the US, but local suppliers say there’s no uptick here.
- Elan-Polo SA launches a sneaker range made largely from recycled materials.
13 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Skechers going private to compete smarter?
15 Evolution
- Swedish retailer wanted to ensure its European suppliers were a better fit than Far East – SGS assessment programme raised standards of a Macedonian supplier.
- Growing trend in the East towards factories staffed entirely by robots – rest of the world ‘being left behind’.
17 Noticeboard
- Obituary: William ‘Bill’ Ramage, formerly of King Tanning and Apeco, had a zest for life.
- Back in the day: Brian Zyster recalls range building by travel in the 1980s and 90s.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (02), East Asian Import & Export (04), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (OFC), Haesloop Agencies (06), Kaytex Belts (09), Leather Finishing Products (12), Saddler Belts (10), SAFLEC (07), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (17), Shotland Packaging (14).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 25 June 2025. Deadline for submissions 18 June.
- Some ideas to stimulate a recovery in local footwear and leather goods manufacturing
There are many factors other than reluctant chain buyers that contribute to the SA leather value chain’s problems ...moreBoat shoes: Sales finally climbing in the US, but local suppliers say there’s no uptick here
Under the headline “Boat shoes sales up for first time in 10 years — one year after fashion declared the style’s comeback”, Footwear News this month reported that boat shoe sales finally seeing an increase, “albeit a fraction of where the category once was in the 2010s”. ...moreElan-Polo SA launches sneaker range made largely from recycled materials
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Elan-Polo SA MD Stuart Worrall has launched a sneaker range made largely from recycled materials.The Green T range – currently 5 styles selling online for R1400 – have uppers and linings made entirely from recycled polyester/PET, insoles with 85% recycled PU content, and outsoles with 35% recycle ...moreSkechers going private to compete smarter?
Skechers has announced its acquisition by private equity firm 3G Capital for $63 per share — a 30% premium over its recent stock price — marking its shift from public to private ownership by Q3 2025. Once the deal closes, Skechers will be delisted from the NYSE, and public shareholders will receive a cash payout. CEO Robe ...moreSwedish 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 ...moreThe key to a long life - a zest for living
Obituary: William ‘Bill’ Ramage – King Tanning, Apeco (01/05/1931-19/07/2024) ...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 ...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.' ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Hail-fellow, well-met, in a genuine way - Obituary: Denis Manning – Kronies Footwear, Trenzado Footwear (29/03/1954-18/03/2025)
Sadly, Denis Manning passed away on Tuesday, 18 March after a battle with cancer, 11 days before his 71st birthday.Denis arrived in South Africa with his wife, Jane, in March 1976 and settled in Pinetown. He joined Kronies as a trainee factory manager and worked there for many years, firstly with Hans Krohn and Doug Roberts and then ...moreThe key to a long life - a zest for livingObituary: William ‘Bill’ Ramage – King Tanning, Apeco (01/05/1931-19/07/2024) ...moreSome ideas to stimulate a recovery in local footwear and leather goods manufacturingThere are many factors other than reluctant chain buyers that contribute to the SA leather value chain’s problems ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- The Fairs - Sam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourWe have just had the pleasure of the celebration of the world's major leather fairs, Lineapelle and APLF. Both fairs have been considered well attended though business was apparently not brilliant. However, have you noticed that the fairs are more and more shifting from the exhibition and business purpose to a conference venue, an instrum ...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 ...moreCOMESA launches leather value chain strategy to boost regional industrialisation
Nairobi, Kenya (02 April 2025) – In a landmark move to accelerate Africa’s industrialization, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has unveiled its Leather Value Chain Strategy 2025–2029.The high-profile launch, held in Nairobi, brought together government officials, development partners, private se ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- WHO 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 ...moreUnderstanding respirator PPE
The subject of Respirator Personal Protective Equipment is confusing until one understands the basic concept requirements.OHS Act defines Respiratory Protective Equipment as a device which is worn over at least the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of air borne hazardous chemical substances and which is of a type or conforms to a s ...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. ...more
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