Durban, KZN, SA – Eckehard Schumann, formerly of Shoetech, died on 19 August, aged 79. An obituary will follow in the August issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods, out on Wednesday. 

The SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) is urging the SA Government to request a return to duty-free exports of leather, footwear and leather goods exports to the United States, arguing that South Africa is not a significant contributor to the US’s imports, but that they nonetheless create jobs in SA.

In an email on 31 July to industry associations, clusters and stakeholders in the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (CTFL) sectors, the Bilateral Trade Desk of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) asked for comments on “a possible initial offer to the US of tariffs equal to those of the EU”.

SAFLEC executive director Nerisha Jairaj argued that wouldn’t work for the sectors her council represents.
“In short, when compared to EU rates, we are fine when access is duty-free, but in the HS codes calling for 10% and 20% tariffs (same as EU) put us at a disadvantage versus other African exporters, so we asked for a parity check,” she wrote.
“For reference, U.S. general tariffs are roughly:
• Ch. 41 (raw hides/leather): 4–6%
• Ch. 42 (handbags/leather goods): 8–20% (handbags ~8–10%)
• Ch. 64 (footwear): 8–10% for leather, up to 37.5% for some non-leather lines

“With AGOA we were duty-free. Compared to 0%, these hikes are a serious setback — especially in handbags and footwear, where margins are already tight. We also highlighted that our sector is not the U.S.’s biggest threat, and argued for a better agreement given its labour-intensive, high-employment potential.

“We suggested also it may be worth looking at U.S. import stats on footwear and leather goods into South Africa, and whether a bilateral agreement could be considered.” 

We are committed to growing the contribution of local production. In addition to being a proudly South African retailer, we are also a proudly South African manufacturer. Our partnership with local suppliers/agents is part of supporting local businesses.

Our sheep’s wool slippers, vellie boots and EVA flip flops are locally made. These are core product categories in our footwear business with consistent year-on-year volume growths. Our vellie boots and sheep’s wool slippers are 100% local meaning all materials and components are from South Africa.

We have a growing market share as a leisure apparel destination, and are banking some of the learnings taken from other retail brands in our stable.

Our leisure range is changing at the moment, influenced in part by Old Khaki, which has a separate team and buyer.

Cape Union Mart offers a leisure footwear and outerwear range through our in-house brands, Rare Earth (our women's leisure brand) and K Way Elements (our men's leisure brand). Both brands operate under the K Way umbrella, which is renowned for its focus on technical performance.

Our leisure footwear mirrors the ethos of our leisure outerwear, designed to meet the needs of our customers who seek versatility in travel, work, and safari. Each product embodies K Way’s brand promise of quality, durability, and innovation.

In the footwear category, we have enhanced this ethos to emphasise timeless style and comfort. Our footwear range is primarily crafted from premium materials and components, incorporating extra technical features, when possible, to ensure suitability for everyday wear.

Our range is a combination of international and local. Locally, we have worked with Bolton Footwear and Smileys Footwear.

Is it a risk to include non-technical casual wear in a store best known for more technical merchandise? No, as we offer leisure as a lifestyle solution and our leisure is our outdoor customer at work, or when traveling or on safari …… and think of Rare Earth as the partner. 

Owing to the uncertainty around tariffs since April we agreed to pause exports for at least a year until there is clarity all round. We sent the last container at the end of June, allowing us to manage down inventory to near zero on those SKUs/raw materials.  

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Yes, we’re still exporting to the U.S., and the new tariffs will have an impact on our business and there’s no denying that. But it’s a challenge we accept with open eyes and the kind of resolve that defines South African entrepreneurs.

We respect the right of the U.S. government to make decisions in its own interest, just as we believe our government is working hard to support local industry and protect South African jobs. We operate at the intersection of these two realities, global trade and national priorities.

That said, our commitment to the American market remains firm. We’re proud to export a superior product, handcrafted in Durban by our partners at Hopewell. These aren’t just shoes, they’re a story of quality, culture, and South African ingenuity. While tariffs will affect our bottom line, we’re confident American consumers will continue to see the value in what we make.

In true South African fashion, we won’t step back, we’ll step up. Tariffs are a bump in the road, not a roadblock. We’ll adapt, innovate, and keep building internationally, because that’s where the growth is and we believe South African products belong on the global stage.