Publisher of leading trade magazines for the Footwear, Leather-goods, Leather & PPE industries

S&V Shoes & Views Magazine Vol.92 No.07 July 2026

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IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- Manufacturer-buyer event: Results still to be tallied, but broad enthusiasm for more.

12 Sportswear
- Comrades shoe count: Asics stays top, Adidas up, Nike slides into 4th place.
- Nike claims ‘mental benefits’ form new styles, observers take wait-and-see approach.

15 Hosiery
- Bova Socks The PPE layer that works inside the boot.

16 Technology
- New generation nonwoven components lead the way towards biodegradable shoes.

19 Noticeboard
- Grey Street – memories of an 80s GenX cool dude.

21 Statistics
- Preliminary trade statistics May 2026.



Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (15), BBF Safety Group (OFC), Dale Footwear/Hush Puppies (03), East Asian Import & Export (20), eThekwini Leather (04), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (07), Haesloop Agencies (15), iSync Solutions (08), Kaytex Belts (05), Leather Finishing Products (22), Paris Belts (13), Saddler Belts (09), SAFLEC (13), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (12), Samfer Equipment Technologies (02), Shotland Packaging (17).

  • 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 ...more
  • Manufacturer-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
  • 2026 Comrades shoe count: Asics stays top, Adidas up, Nike slides into 4th place
    Marathon shoe counts are among the few footwear statistics available in SA. The Sweat Shop’s Jax Snyman has extracted this year’s Comrades Marathon figures for comparison with last year.His assessment: “Asics up. Adidas properly up. New Balance steady although now 3rd largest. Nike down and drop in rankings to 4th. Sauco ...more
  • Nike claims ‘mental benefits’ from new styles, observers take wait-and-see approach
    Nike makes big technical claims for a category of non-sport footwear (their description: pre-game and post-game) launched in January.Certainly not the first footwear to incorporate underfoot pressure points, ‘Nike Mind Technology’ is 2 shoes – a mule and a sneaker (in different colour options) – which Nike says lit ...more
  • Bova Socks: The PPE layer that works inside the boot
    In demanding work environments, safety footwear plays a critical role in helping workers manage workplace risks. However, the sock worn inside the boot also influences comfort, hygiene, fit and overall performance throughout the shift. This makes Bova’s sock range an essential part of a complete PPE solution.Bova high-performance so ...more
  • New 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 ...more
  • Grey Street – memories of an 80s GenX cool dude
    Jonathan Commons, our webmaster, grew up in the Durban of the 1980s. He has a great affection for the Grey Street outfitters of the era, and he wrote these recollections.Oddly enough the news item about the closure of Jay's Outfitters triggered a bit of nostalgia for the good old days when, as a teenager in the 80s, one could hitchhike do ...more
  • Manufacturer-buyer event: Among the retailer comments
    Kim Cunniffe, Kingsmead ShoesOur buyers found some suppliers they were unaware of, and a few possibilities in terms of product. We haven’t yet taken this forward, but we will do so.Hassen Ismail, Fashion WorldIt was more-or-less what you expect of local manufacturing in terms of styling, quality, and price.We have asked for samples. ...more

Footwear Industry Articles

  • The showroom pair is not the order
    A shoe on a showroom table is wonderfully persuasive. A buyer can flex the forefoot, press the heel counter, check the stitching, compare the two shoes and turn the pair over to examine the sole. Colour, finish and hand feel are all there to judge.The purchase order may then reduce that pair to a short line: one style number, one colour d ...more
  • Vermont sale completed
    Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – After 39 years, former owner Mandy Owen has sold her shares in Vermont Leathercraft Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd to Creek Lab (Pty) Ltd, and officially handed over the business to Prashant Bhaga.In a message on LinkedIn, she wrote: “I would like to thank my husband, Graham, for his invaluable contributio ...more
  • National Leather and General Goods Strategy Workshop
    On 23 June, following months of fieldwork, B&M Analysts (BMA) hosted an online workshop to discuss the recovery of the handbags, belts, travel goods and allied manufacturing industries in SA.The industries, although very diverse, fall under the General Goods & Handbags Sector of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Indus ...more
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