S&V African Leather Magazine Vol19 No8 August 2025
Click the advert links for more info. • Download PDF
IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
05 Upfront
- “It’s unfair to target ostrich products,” writes Cape Karoo International MD Francois de Wet of the US tariffs. “There are no alternatives.”
- Hunting industry has been a major contributor to the recovery of SA’s tourism sector.
- ISTT revises wastewater course as international students register.
09 An Eclectic View
- Bio emulsions are a potentially lucrative new field of study, writes correspondent H. Procter.
12 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- It’s personal! The Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor mourns the loss of her leather boots – because they can’t be resoled.
14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (06), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (10), Mimosa (04), Rolfes Leather Division (03), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (03), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (11), Stahl (OFC), Sustainable Leather Foundation (08).
The Next Issue
- The September 2025 issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 17 September. The deadline for contributions is 10 September.
- ‘It’s unfair to target us,’ argues Cape Karoo International – ‘there’s no alternative’
The impact of a 30% duty on exports of ostrich leather and feathers from SA to the USA ...moreHunting industry contributes R44 billion to SA economy, study says, and taxidermists contribute R500m-R750m of that
Under the headline “South Africa’s secret R44 billion weapon”, Daily Investor on 16 July publicised a study which claims that South Africa’s hunting tourism sector contributes over R44 billion and 95 000 jobs to the country.It quoted North-West University (NWU) Professors Peet van der Merwe and Andrea Saayman ...moreISTT updates tannery wastewater treatment course
Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA – Following the registration of Australian students, and as part of its conversion to a distance education/online international leather training provider, the International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) has updated its tannery wastewater treatment course.In conjunction with Johan Barnard’s Enviro ...moreBIO-EMULSIONS
The development of biobased and biodegradable coatings using pre-polymers in emulsions has seen significant progress in recent years, driven by sustainability goals and regulatory pressures to reduce petroleum-based and non-degradable materials. There is a stark difference between a polymer that is derived from biogenic origin, known as a ...moreMourning My Favourite Boots
How one pair of well-travelled boots made me question footwear sustainability ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourNo limits to luxury’s dirty secrets? There seem to be no limits when it comes to digging out dirt about brands violating their own rules. Another top brand is under investigation, caught red handed by Italian authorities for violating labour laws by employing illegal (Chinese) immigrants, paying them indecently low wages for long wo ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Manufacturer-buyer event: Results still to be tallied, but broad enthusiasm for more
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 ...moreNew generation nonwoven components lead the way towards biodegradable shoes
Compostable and biodegradable footwear is becoming a reality.The nova-Institut für politische und ökologische Innovation GmbH in Hürth, Germany, has published an updated version of its poster, 'Biodegradable Polymers in Various Environments', and project manager Kristijan Mršić told Shoes & Views that several of ...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 ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- SADC Leather Forum unites 16 member states to strengthen the regional leather industry
The Southern African Development Community’s Regional Leather Forum met in Durban, South Africa, in August. Nerisha Jairaj and Jacob Nyathi explain different aspects. ...moreThe leather value chain offers opportunities for all SADC countriesThe Southern African Regional Leather Network (SARLEN) and the SADC Leather Forum present a great opportunity for the development of the leather value chains (LVCs) in all or most SADC states, whose LVCs are at different stages of development.in Zimbabwe we already have a well-structured LVC coordinated by an apex body, the Zimbabwe Leath ...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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Occupational noise-induced hearing loss ‘is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world’
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world*. 16% of all disabling hearing loss in adults is due to noise exposure.It’s also expensive. According to one study, it costs US$242 million in annual compensation in the USA. In the UK, the typical cost per claim in the is £ ...moreGlobal stage for occupational safety innovations: exhibitor registration for A+A 2027 has begun
Düsseldorf, Germany – The next A+A fair will be held from 19 to 22 October 2027.Since 16 June 2026 exhibitors have been able to register for A+A 2027. Companies and organisations from around the world are invited to introduce their innovations and solutions for safety and health at work and sustainable prevention to an int ...moreNew OHS regulations coming into force later this year mean PPE needs to be reviewed, too
In March 2025, the Physical Agents Regulations (and their guidelines) and the Noise Exposure Regulations (and their guidelines) of the OHSAct were published, with an 18-month time-period promulgation date to September 2026, allowing employers time to upgrade their Health & Safety requirements to comply with the new published regulatio ...more
© S&V Publications
