S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol91 No7 July 2025
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Malawi restriction on imported security boots ‘will help local factory, but bank loans still difficult’.
04 Interview
- ‘New wave’ for Boardriders – GM Mohamed Dewan explains.
06 Retail
- ‘New wave’ for Boardriders – GM Mohamed Dewan explains.
09 Trademarks
- Appeal by SA Enrico Coveri trademark holder to stop import of Italian Enrico Coveri footwear as counterfeit dismissed.
12 Headlines with Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Clarks cuts prices by up to 60% in the UK – smart move or sign of trouble?
- Inspired or appropriated? Prada’s sandals, Maharashtra’s craft, and the call for recognition.
- Freebird Shoes feels the squeeze – and it’s a sign of the times.
- When a $25 hoodie causes a $ million lawsuit – the story of Lululemon vs. Costco.
13 Noticeboard
- Back in the day: When overseas travel was a real trip, Part III. Brian Zyster recalls photographing shop windows in the 1980s and 90s – a game of cat and mouse.
- Obituary: David Maisey – a member of the original agency Bomb Squad, by Brian Carmichael.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (02), BBF Safety Group (05), East Asian Import & Export (08), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (OFC), Haesloop Agencies (11), Kaytex Belts (13), Leather Finishing Products (15), Saddler Belts (03), SAFLEC (09), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (04), Shotland Packaging (17).
- ‘New wave for Boardriders as global trends point to surf as lifestyle inspiration’
Durban, KZN, SA – With new owners globally (Authentic Brands Group), new owners locally (LA Group), new management, and an evolving and difficult local market, there were always going to be changes to the way Boardriders does business.Its 10 surf- and skateboard orientated brands dominate their niches, “but we need to grow bey ...moreMall group backs new shoe retailer with a vision
Benoni, Gauteng, SA – Cossen, a micro footwear manufacturer-cum-retailer founded by entrepreneur Nelisiwe Cossa, is 1 of 5 new entrepreneurs being helped to establish itself as a viable business by shopping centre group Vukile Property Fund in its Daveyton Mall in Benoni.Having herself learnt the basics of design, pattern cutting an ...moreVukile’s Property Fund’s project to grow new entrepreneurs expands with launch of new emporium at Daveyton Mall
Many – most – just about all – independent retailers believe that South African shopping centre managements discriminate against them, and they say most malls are just a rehash of the same chains, over and over again.Vukile Property Fund, which has around 30 medium size centres around SA serving mostly middle class consu ...moreClarks cuts prices by up to 60% in the UK — smart move or sign of trouble?
Clarks has launched what may be its boldest sale in years — offering up to 60% off across all 326 UK stores and online. But behind the markdowns lies more than just a seasonal promotion. This looks like a brand trying to steady itself in a storm.Founded in 1825 by Cyrus and James Clark in Somerset, Clarks built its reputation over n ...moreInspired or appropriated? Prada’s sandals, Maharashtra’s craft, and the call for recognition
When Prada introduced its latest leather sandals at Milan Fashion Week, the visual resemblance was unmistakable: Kolhapuri chappals — iconic handmade footwear from Maharashtra, India. The backlash was swift. Artisans, media, and cultural commentators called out the brand for what they viewed as cultural appropriation, sparking an in ...moreFreebird Shoes feels the squeeze — and it’s a sign of the times
High interest rates. Rising inflation. Changing consumer habits. These forces are squeezing the life out of many retail businesses — and Freebird Shoes is one of the latest to stumble. The once-popular brand, known for its handcrafted leather boots, has closed 14 of its 20 U.S. stores and is reportedly buried under more than $15 mil ...moreWhen a $25 hoodie causes a $ million lawsuit — the story of Lululemon vs. Costco
Lululemon is taking Costco to court — and it’s not over yoga classes. The premium activewear brand says Costco is selling lookalike versions of its most popular clothes, and they’re not having it. Filed on June 27, 2025, in a California court, the lawsuit claims Costco’s cheaper Kirkland, Spyder, and Danskin items ...morePhotographing shop windows – a game of cat and mouse
Back in the day, when overseas travel was a real tripA series by Brian R. ZysterPart of my job was taking photographs of the new products, trends and styles available to introduce into my new season range of footwear. So I was armed with a Canon camera and some zoom lenses with about 25 rolls of film and also a notebook to put some ideas ...moreObituary: David Maisey – Brondean Agencies (11/05/1945-10/07/2025): A member of the original agency Bomb Squad
Dave, born in the UK, started at Dodo’s in Johannesburg in the late 1960s then moving to Edgars in Port Elizabeth as a buyer in 1973. Not long after he was offered the Jordan agency in the Eastern Cape which he grabbed with both hands and served the company very professionally for 40 years.In 1986, I was plucked from the buying o ...moreMalawi restriction on imported security boots ‘will help local factory, but bank loans still difficult’Blantyre, Malawi (09 June 2025) – Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Bantu Arts and Crafts has applauded the Ministry of Trade and Industry for issuing a restriction order on the importation of security boots and industrial footwear. The move has paved the way for locally manufactured products of the same kind to thrive.Speaking in a ...moreAppeal by SA Enrico Coveri trademark holder to stop import of Italian Enrico Coveri footwear as counterfeit dismissedOriginal reports by Dale Healy (Adams & Adams), and Zelda Venter (Southern African Legal Information Institute).Dale Healy (Adams & Adams)South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has delivered a landmark ruling that authentic designer goods cannot be seized as counterfeits, even when imported without permission from local trad ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Shoet3ch opens Pinetown office
Pinetown, KZN, SA – 6 months after the closure of Shoetech Engineering, its successor company, Shoet3ch Consumables (Pty) Ltd, has opened premises back in Pinetown.“This is of course a business decision,” said Shoet3ch director Nicky Hawkins, daughter of the late Shoetech owner, Eckehard Schumann, “but it’s a ...moreObituary: Miles O’Brien – Sportshoe, Jordan Shoes (08/02/1950-26/10/2025) Some See the Crescent, He Saw the Whole of the Moon
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Miles O’Brien went to Progress College in Rondebosch and studied marketing at Cape Technikon. His first job was at Standard Bank in Plumstead for a short period of time, then onto the City Tramways for 10 years.Sportshoe was owned by Benny Stoltzman (who also owned Vogue Shoes) who had the agency for A ...moreThe Life Of Brian: Back in the day, when overseas travel was a real trip: All work and no play would have made me a dull boy…
I'm going to be very discreet with the following article. Some of the persons described here could possibly be alive and still employed in the industry [Almost certainly, Brian. Only the good die young. – Ed.]. However, I'm not trying to embarrass anyone but just having a laugh at what happened during those overseas trips.Some ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Topsoil expands into finished goods
Kafue, Zambia - Topsoil General Dealers Company established a hides and skins trading business in 2009. In 2022, with the help of the Crocodile Farmers Association of Zambia, it established a basic tannery to process lower grades crocodile skins into leather. The tannery installed capacity is 150 skins production per month from tan to fin ...moreFoot and mouth disease: Low automotive demand ‘a blessing’Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – “Obviously FMD has an effect, you only have to look at the meat prices to see that,” said Gerrie de Jager, MD of Brits Leather Group’s Rosslyn Tannery. “All the red tape and protocols for biosecurity associated with FMD add further costs to a stressed market.“Fortunately, the Sta ...moreKeeping it in the familyBoksburg, Gauteng, SA – During 2022/23 my wife fell ill with Covid and we decided to get our daughter, Tania Ellis, involved in the business to enable me to spend more time with Alice. Alice eventually passed away 17th January 2024 after 55 years of married life and as we’re all getting older, I decided to keep Tania on, with ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Updated safety footwear standards: No clarity after marathon meetingPretoria, Gauteng, SA – South African safety footwear manufacturers and importers will have to wait until 08 October to get answers from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) after a 3-hour, 30-minute Microsoft Teams ‘stakeholder meeting’ on 11September overran its timeslot – and that was afte ...moreFidelity acquires SSG Holdings to grow to nearly 70 000 staff over more than 250 locationsJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (17 September 2025) – Fidelity Services Group has acquired a majority shareholding in SSG Holdings, following all requisite regulatory approvals. The acquisition will expand Fidelity’s footprint to more than 256 locations and grow its workforce to approximately 69 200 employees across Southern Africa. ...moreGap cover: The case for the extra costAccidents can leave families with medical expenses that extend beyond what medical aid covers. This is where gap cover becomes a safety net. Accident benefits help bridge the gap between what medical aid pays and the actual costs of treatment.The financial implications of accidentsMedical costs can vary significantly. In severe cases, acc ...more
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