2016 S&V Newsletter No 09, March 7

S&V Footwear and Leather Goods / S&V African Leather

SAFLIA cautious about import of duty free – especially worn – footwear for charity

Durban (SA) – The Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA) has opposed the duty-free import of worn and free footwear under Tariff heading 405.04.
Most applications are from NGOs supplying charities.
“Until October last year, applications like this were treated on an ad hoc basis by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC),” said SAFLIA executive director Jirka Vymetal. “Then the DTI instructed ITAC that all applications for duty free imports on footwear had to be passed to SAFLIA for comment. Our first priority must be to look after local manufacturing and protect jobs.
“We accept that many charities are doing a sterling job, and we have no desire to deprive the poor in any way, but we feel that rather than those charities sourcing footwear mainly from China, they should source it here. That would have a double benefit for the country.
“We feel it’s an area open to abuse. Discussions are ongoing as to how best all parties can benefit.” – [0800SAFLIA, info@saflia.co.za]

Mancom

Durban (SA) – SAFLIA’s first management committee meeting of the year will be on March 10 at its offices here.

WAM to reopen store in JV with Franco Ceccato

Durban (SA) – WAM Agencies is to reopen its Blue Dot factory shop on May 1, this time as a JV with retail chain Franco Ceccato. The store will be in the Twin Clothing Centre at 858 Umgeni Road.
It closed its previous shop – inherited from liquidated Tiago Trading – in November.
WAM GM Wayne Matthysen said Blue Dot would sell WAM’s Ferradini footwear and clothing, as well as Franco Ceccato and Queue private label footwear, and Arno branded footwear.
Merchandise would be both current and end-of-range, and prices would be around 75% of recommended retail mark-ups, with the exception of Ferradini weave footwear, which would be sold at the full retail price.
Leather weave men’s footwear from India is Ferradini’s signature line, and WAM imports around 10 000 pairs/year.
He said Blue Dot had an SMS base of around 14 000 addresses.
“I’d like to open more over time,” he said. “First I need to fine tune the concept with (Franco Ceccato group MD) Steve Miller.” – [+27 (0)31 301 0167, wayne@wamagencies.co.za]

SLTC confirms convention dates, venue

Pietermaritzburg (SA) – The SLTC Convention will be held at Brahman Hills conference centre on May 13 and 14, Society of Leather Technologists & Chemists’ treasurer Warren Phipps has confirmed.
Brahman Hills is on the Curry’s Post road outside of Nottingham Road village on the N3 (http://www.brahmanhills.co.za/).
He said the SLTC was finalising papers, and would be sending out further information shortly. – [Secretary Nicola Phipps, +27 (0)79 495 1926, nphipps@telkomsa.net]

ABSA Agri Trends 01/03: Hides & skins prices

The average hide price traded higher over the past week at R14.09/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies.
The average price for Dorper skins traded lower at R68.93/skin and Merino lower at R94.00/skin.
The average price for ostrich skins dropped 0.17% to R1558.90.
Ostrich raw meat exports dropped 0.97% to R42.88/kg. Heat treated meat dropped 0.82% to R32.46, and domestic meat sales stayed the same at R11.61.

Simac Tanning Tech: ‘Visitor numbers up’

Milan (Italy) – There was a “major increase” in visitor numbers to Simac Tanning Tech, according to the organisers. It did not give figures in its release.
Simac Tanning Tech President Gabriella Marchioni Bocca said the success was “primarily thanks to the exhibiting companies, which interpreted customer needs extremely well, offering sustainable and innovative products. We recorded a major increase in visitors from both Italy and abroad and they were especially appreciative of the eco-friendly technological solutions. This is fast becoming a pressing global requirement.”
The next Simac Tanning Tech is from 21 to 23 February 2017.

Webinar on brands taking manufacturing back to US, Italy

Washington (DC) – The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) will host a webinar on March 31 on US and Italian brands bringing manufacturing back to their home countries.
Entitled “Re-shoring in the US & Italy: Why apparel & fashion brands are coming home”, the webinar “will focus on the re-shoring of brands and businesses who are contemplating ‘coming home’ and bringing manufacturing back to their country of origin”, according to a release.
Speakers are Bill D'Arienzo, Associate Strategy Advisor, Ambrosetti, and Gian Mario Borney, Senior Global Strategist, Fashion Brands Ambrosetti. Moderator is Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA. It will be held from  2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET. – [Register here.]

Cashmere World dates change

Hong Kong – APLF has brought forward the dates of the 2016 Cashmere World fair to September 22-24.
There will also be an edition of Fashion Access, covering footwear and leather goods, on the same dates. – [+852 2827 6211, info@aplf.com, www.aplf.com]

Fashion Week this week

Johannesburg (SA) – African Fashion International’s (AFI) Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2016 will take place this week from Thursday to Saturday (March 10-12) at Sandton City’s Nelson Mandela Square. – [www.afi.za.com]

They Said It

"I don’t carry a photo of Gavin in my wallet – in any case, he doesn’t look very different now." - Rebel Safety Gear GM Rob Gingell, in response to our request for a photo of MD Gavin Cooke. Our most current photo of him dates back to 2007. Perhaps he should be bottling whatever it is that keeps him so youthful.

"With the R/$ spiralling out of control, all stock is valuable. Our prices are already discounted. We don’t have redundant stock we’re looking to job out." - Claw Boot’s Grant Fraser.

Birthdays this week

07/03/1960: Rafique Moosa, Cassim Moosa Bros. Trading, Pretoria.
08/03/1966: Yamraj Deeplal, Foot Flair, Amanzimtoti.
08/03/1962: Rajesh Kulwa, Apeco, Pinetown.
09/03/1967: PJ Moloisane, Trade & Investment SA, Sandton.
09/03/1982: Romal Sewsunker, Sunstep Footwear, Durban.
10/03/1958: Nigel Dunning, Mimosa Extract Co., Pietermaritzburg.
10/03/1951: Mrs M Balakrishnan, Malar Industries, Ndola, Zambia.
11/03/1956: Sarah Gedye, Michelle Footwear, Durban.
11/03/1968: Brett Laing, Grounded, Cape Town.
11/03/1959: André Meyer, Green Cross, Bloemfontein.
12/03/1966: Matthew Hansen, CL Hansen Agencies, Durban.
12/03/1988: Mohamed Yaseen Jeewa, Traford Footwear, Durban.
13/03/1965: Eleugene Human, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage.
13/03/1959: Salim Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg.
13/03/1981: Colin Muir, Pasacojo Marketing Services, Port Elizabeth.
13/03/1977: Sarah Chapman, designer, Durban.

In Memoriam this week

10/03/2004: Steven Naidoo, Nasron Footwear, Durban.
11/03/1993: Doug Roberts, Clarks SA/Kingsley Shoes [both closed], Pietermaritzburg.
11/03/2005: Des Orme, (b. 27/11/1924), Panama Shoes [closed], Durban.
11/03/2013: Donald Henry Gough (b. 02/07/1922), Barker Footwear/FMF, Cape Town.
13/03/1997: Denis Kalil, Payless Shoes, Durban.

Classified Adverts

London Shoes seeks reps