S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol91 No8 August 2025
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Shein and Temu: Sky News investigates the cost to the UK clothing sector.
04 Interview
- Falke: Rebuilding local demand as US tariffs take a chunk out of exports – CEO Neil Hablutzel explains.
06 Retail
- Footwear News predicts a major comeback for vulcanised canvas in the US. David Abramsohn of the Crick Group and Michael Craft of Dangee Carken predict its impact here.
08 Insights by Tinashe Mandirahwe
- Why sneakers are taking over airline uniforms.
- Mexico’s president pressures Adidas over ancestral craft.
10 Exports
- SAFLEC AGM: ‘We are constantly reassessing our strategies,’ says chairman Tavonga Gonyora.
- Handbag course: Adding the polish to encourage exports.
13 Noticeboard
- The Life of Brian: Back in the day: When overseas travel was a real trip. Brian Zyster recalls some scary moments.
- Birthday for retired agent Leslie D’Unienville.
- Obituary: Eckehard Schumann, Shoetech Engineering – from ships to shoes, and he sailed well in both, by Nicky Hawkins.
Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (09), BBF Safety Group (05), East Asian Import & Export (11), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Haesloop Agencies (OFC), Kaytex Belts (13), Leather Finishing Products (10), Saddler Belts (06), SAFLEC (07), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (03), Shotland Packaging (17).
The Next Issue:
- Out on 24 September 2025. Deadline for submissions 17 September.
- Falke: Rebuilding local demand as US tariffs take a chunk out of export
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Hosiery manufacturer Falke SA is among the handful of SA CTFL companies whose business is overwhelmingly export orientated. In its case, its products go to its parent company in Germany, which handles the European market, and to the United States, to hosiery and footwear accessories company Implus, under the ...moreDangee Carken: It will take a few more years to really grow
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – One would expect vulcanised canvas to be showing renewed momentum, given its durability and long-lasting value in a market where affordability is key. There’s also a strong heritage connection, with many South Africans remembering vulcanised footwear — like Converse, back when it was widely ac ...moreWhy sneakers are taking over airline uniforms
Bangkok Airways and Puma are breaking new ground, giving cabin crew and ground staff custom sneakers made from about 30% recycled materials. Sure, it’s a small uniform change — but it’s a big signal. Comfort is no longer a perk; it’s part of a brand’s identity. And when pioneers make the move, other airl ...moreMexico’s president pressures Adidas over ancestral craft
Adidas is under scrutiny in Mexico over its “Oaxaca Slip-On” sandal, which officials say closely resembles the traditional huaraches of the Zapotec people. Cultural appropriation — taking elements from another culture, often without credit or fair compensation — is at the centre of the dispute. While such appropria ...moreSAFLEC 23rd AGM, 06 August 2025, Umhlanga, KZN: Extracts from the reports
SAFLEC 23rd AGM, 06 August 2025, Umhlanga, KZN: Extracts from the reports ...moreHandbag course: Adding the polish to encourage exports
Durban, KZN, SA – The South African handbag manufacturing industry holds significant export potential, “yet it currently receives relatively little intervention”, in the view of SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) director Nerisha Jairaj.“Over the past few years, I’ve realised that our handbags ...moreObituary: Eckehard Schumann - Shoetech Engineering cc (13/11/1945-19/08/2025) - From ships to shoes, and he sailed well in both
Durban, KZN, SA – My father was born in Potsdam, Germany, in the aftermath of the Second World War. His father died when he was very young, and his mother fled Germany for a better future in South Africa.As a German speaker, he was placed in the Afrikaans medium Port Natal School, where he matriculated in 1963.He went on to the Univ ...moreRevealed: The scale of cheap Chinese imports flown into UK without paying any tariffsSky News uncovers the first official estimate of the value of so-called 'de minimis' imports into Britain ahead of an official inquiry into whether this legal clause should be allowed to continue. ...moreSuperga: Value will play a big part in its popularityVulcanised canvas: Under the headline ‘Why Skate and Other Vulcanized Sneakers Are Poised for a Major Comeback’, Footwear News on 21 August predicted an upturn in that construction for a number of brands. We asked several SA footwear suppliers for their take. Two responded. ...moreWe are constantly reassessing our strategiesSAFLEC 23rd AGM, 06 August 2025, Umhlanga, KZN: Extracts from the reports ...moreIn a difficult global economy, we’ve helped improve the industry’s export readinessSAFLEC 23rd AGM, 06 August 2025, Umhlanga, KZN: Extracts from the reports ...moreCommitted to supporting these sectorsThe eThekwini Footwear Leather Cluster (EFLC) is aimed to empower local manufacturers, and we’ve managed to implement programmes as per our business plan (i.e. export development, market access, world class manufacturing, product design & development and sustainability).EFLC also launched the Retail New Market Project to acceler ...moreSome scary momentsThe Life Of Brian: Back in the day, when overseas travel was a real trip. A series by Brian R. Zyster ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Bolton: A welcome return for range launches
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Range launches – complete with shelves and shelves of samples, showings in the major centres, models, snacks, and invitations to a cross section of retailers – are so from-days-gone-by, so out-of-date, so ‘pre-Covid’ – and so welcome, it turns out.Bolton Footwear group sales, de ...moreKnock out the knockoffs: Protecting your brand against imitationsCounterfeiting is no longer confined to imitation designer goods sold in back-alley markets. It has become a widespread and organised trade that threatens fair competition and the rights of legitimate businesses. At its simplest, counterfeiting means the deliberate manufacture and sale of goods calculated to resemble genuine branded produ ...moreWorld class manufacturing was an eye-opener and a lessonThis is my last contribution to this series of events. I have thoroughly enjoyed stepping back into the days when travelling to find new designs was real travel.My final contribution is to say that with all that happened there were a lot of positives also achieved. I managed to visit some international manufacturing facilit ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- EUDR Update: What Africa’s Leather Sector Needs to Know NowThe European Commission’s latest proposal to simplify the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) timeline has sparked debate, and arguably a little relief, across global supply chains. However, while there are signs of continued flexibility, the message from the European Commission in Brussels remains firm: the regulation is ...moreTRUTH: A message to the anti-leather lobby: Cattle aren’t killed for their hides. Q.E.D.
Benedict Spinoza (1637-1677) had many great contributions to the field of philosophy, especially his book entitled Ethics. In that great book he talks about false and true ideas. He mentions that a true idea, specifically the truth of an idea that you hold in your head is a very powerful intellectual tool. He draws a distinction between i ...moreA land of opportunities, a land of contrasts, but it needs global brands to invest
Reg Hankey, executive chairman of Pittards Group Ltd., is well qualified to write about the leather industry in Ethiopia. As an investor, he knows the opportunities and the pitfalls. He is also passionate about the country and its people. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- SELECTING JOB TASK PPEThe issue of ‘Selecting Job Task Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE)’ seems a simple undertaking, but at many levels, it is a fairly complex issue, because for each type of PPE there are usually various product variants available for the different risks and exposures related to specific job task work occurrences and events.To ...moreCleaning water with light — a new generation of compact and efficient water treatment systems
Functionalised foam ceramics for treating polluted waterIndustrial process and wastewater pose a major challenge when it comes to environmental protection. Fraunhofer researchers in Dresden have now succeeded in developing compact and energy-efficient systems that use photocatalytic oxidation to efficiently break down impurities. At the ...moreHong Kong residential towers fire: Spotlight will fall on bamboo scaffolding
The fire in Hong Kong which affected 8 32-storey residential towers in November will lead to scrutiny of the bamboo scaffolding which encased the buildings.There will be pressure to ban it, or at least modify it perhaps to the point where it loses the properties that have made it an attractive option for so long.Bamboo scaffolding is wide ...more
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