S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.8 No.03, January 17 2022
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Trends
Casual will still dominate men's footwear in SA, but formal making a strong comeback
On 04 January, Footwear News surveyed US retailers about trends expected to dominate the men's market there this year. Their picks suggested footwear, dominated by sneakers, will remain mostly casual, whereas formal clothing is making a comeback. Read the full article: Here
Locally, last week we asked a dozen men's footwear suppliers for their forecasts. 4 - all importers - responded:
Michael Craft, Dangee Carken
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Nothing pleases South Africans more than a fresh pair of kicks.
Men’s footwear for 2022 is a hard one to pinpoint any specific style or shoe. My favourites for this year are the more 'out there', rough looking rebellious shoes with a modern twist. The grungier the style as well as thicker soled shoes are definitely expected to take off this year with the trend to decorate shoes being widely represented this season.
Where I believe sneakers will keep their momentum, the likes of formals are slowly making a comeback in the first quarter of the year with an anticipated increase in the following quarters.
These days people want to make every moment count so making a statement when going out is big deal, it’s out with the basics and in with the new fashion!
Bring out the rebel in you.
Nas Kokoroyanis, Florsheim SA/Derek Brown Agencies
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – Based on my recent experience, I believe we are mirroring what is happening in the US and Europe. Sneakers are still a feature and growing amongst the younger population. But, in saying that, we have experienced a large growth in formal sales in the last 4 months of last year, and going into this year too. This seems to be for the following reasons: one is the increase in numbers @ formal functions, and functions themselves, and secondly, more people are returning to work. I also, personally, believe that SA men are sick of dressing casually for the last 2 years (working from home), and now want to dress up again.
Laurence Lotzoff, Dale Footwear/Hush Puppies SA
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – We have seen an uptick in demand across all our categories and noticeably in our new waterproof dress range, our beach sandals and sneaker categories, and most definitely in our new slipper/lounge collection.
I think consumers are in a state of flux ranging from going back to work in an office environment to still work-from-home so the demand for related footwear is showing.
Even though COVID meant a lot more stay at home situations, our response in the slipper category was well-timed and it seems despite the changes in work environment, the category is here to stay and growing!
Brian Carmichael, MTL Trading
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Despite the visible presence of relatively inexpensive men's flip flops, sneakers and trainers in store-branded retail, we are also experiencing a renewed demand for formal and more structured smart casual footwear in our markets.
Formal inflows retailed very well last year leading to shortages which are currently being replenished.
Sneakers - Follow-up to last week's 'local manufacturers must make sneakers' article
In the January edition of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods last week, the lead article was that if the SA footwear manufacturing industry is to grow, it must start making sneakers. Here are submissions from 2 people who say it can.
Unit makers CAN offer what you need
Shannon Proctor, BLP Rubber & Plastic Supplies
Cato Ridge, KZN, SA – Barrier to entry for most footwear developments in respect of rubber components remains the tooling cost.
BLP Rubber has and will continue to take a partnership approach to all new business whereby we can amortize the cost of the tooling over 24 months or finance the tool entirely based off a supply agreement. This has been done extensively where the volumes allow and the footwear manufacturer has faith in the future of the project.
The issue remains that the footwear manufacturers are not able or willing to commit to projects. BLP invites any manufacturer to engage with us on this front.
BLP has an in-house design team and a full CNC-equipped toolroom capable of making a range of footwear tools.
We are able to design the tool, compound, process and characteristics of any product to meet and exceed specifications.
SA used to make sneakers - and can again
Jirka Vymětal, SAFLIA
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – I was with Conshu and when it acquired Sportshoe form the late Ben Stoltzman. Sportshoe mainly produced sneakers with Adidas as the main customer. We're talking of thousands of pairs a day. Some of the styles I recall were the Adidas Seattle, TRX, TRX Special, Boston, etc. Today these shoes would be classified as 'vintage' or 'retro' sneakers. Later Sportshoe was merged with Jordan (now part of Bolton) where this production even increased to include other brands such as Asics, Nike, Pony, Saucony, etc.
We also produced the Police and Prisons PT tender shoes, which would fall into this category.
Over the years I would say millions of pairs were produced.
The skills and capacity is still out there.
My opinion is that sneakers, by their nature, are not highly technical footwear - as opposed to serious running shoes which fall into a different category.
Surely we can make them locally again.
They Said It
"Just have some catching up to do. Nothing quite like opening your laptop on the first day of work in the New Year to about 700 emails! My poor Microsoft Outlook server must feel like it has Covid-19!" - Nick Bryant, ProFit Safety Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
"My heartfelt thanks for making sure that I get my snv for the last 12 years. IT'S REALLY A JOURNEY TO ME KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS LEATHER INDUSTRY. You are so awesome." - Carol Mentor, retired former president of the National Union of Leather & Allied Workers, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. I know, I shouldn't share this email, but thank you, Carol. And snv? It has a social media ring to it, I think.
In case you missed it!
The January issue of S&V African Leather Magazine
S&V African Leather Magazine Vol16 No1 January 2022
IN THIS ISSUE:
3 Sam Setter's Pills
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
03 An Eclectic View
- Making Fly Leather: Claims that it is more environmentally friendly than leather don't stand up, writes H. Procter.
07 Knowledge Transfer, Education & Training
- An introduction to the 10-part series starting in the next issue on an overview of making leather, by Richard Daniels.
09 Sustainability
- Bangladesh: The responsibility of potential. A survey by Deborah Taylor of the Sustainable Leather Foundation.
- Testing, inspection and certification company SGS joins the Sustainable Leather Foundation.
14 Sector Reports
- Automotive leather: Report predicting 'steady growth' for auto leather is wrong, say local firms.
- Fish skin leather: Fish skin leather project by Stellenbosch University proposed to aid W. Cape jobless.
14 Fairs & Conferences
- Revomec is platinum sponsor of the III Eurocongress IULTCS 2022.
15 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
16 Agriculture
- Mobile weed killer for tree nurseries: Research by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany is important because it illustrates the pressure on the entire agriculture value chain to become more sustainable.
18 Notice Board
- Obituary: 'A might oak has fallen' - A tribute to ostrich tanner Pieter Yzelle, formerly with KKI and SCOT, by Frik Kriek.
Advertisers in this Issue
ISTT (02), Italtan (01), Mimosa (06), Rolfes Leather Division (04), S&V Directory (13), Skin, Hide & Leather Council (SHALC) (08), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (12), Stahl (OFC).
Got anything you'd like to share?
Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the industry that you'd like to share with the industry? - tony@svmag.co.za
17/01/1949: Carol Mentor, retired, formerly NULAW, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
17/01/1961: Gita Chetty, Angelai’s, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/01/1963: Michael Lawrence, National Clothing Retail Federation of SA, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/01/1977: Guy Millar, Rags on Trend, Midrand, Gauteng, SA.
19/01/1960: Saleem Khamissa, His Place, Port Shepstone, KZN, SA.
23/01/1943: Pat Ward, left industry, ex-RPM Shoes [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
23/01/1944: Gerrie Botha, Steps Shoes @ Barclay, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
23/01/1964: Lesley Williams, Lesley Williams Agencies, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
In Memoriam this week
17/01/2012: Graham Pearson (b. 16/01/1929), Apeco, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
18/01/2002: Frank Mellon (b. 04/02/1930), Valmell Components, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/01/2005: Thomas Anthony (Tony) O’Sullivan (b.08/06/1928), Vogue Shoes and others [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
20/01/2010: Johan Bester (b. 08/11/1936), ProGlove, King William’s Town, E. Cape, SA.
22/01/1997: Charles Lintner, Bata SA, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
Have you let us know about your birthday, or the birthdays of your colleagues? Our readers love this section, so please become part of it. This also applies to the In Memoriam section. Help us remember former colleagues.
Exchange rates
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/01/22 |
R18.14 |
R21.60 |
R15.95 |
R2.50 |
| 09/01/22 |
R17.71 |
R21.18 |
R15.59 |
R2.44 |
| 15/01/22 |
R17.55 |
R21.03 |
R15.37 |
R2.42 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/01/2022 |
13.38 |
15.93 |
11.76 |
1.85 |
| 08/01/2022 |
13.32 |
15.93 |
11.72 |
1.83 |
| 15/01/2022 |
13.19 |
15.81 |
11.55 |
1.81 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/01/2022 |
925.13 |
1101.66 |
813.47 |
128.13 |
| 08/01/2022 |
930.60 |
1113.00 |
819.04 |
128.42 |
| 15/01/2022 |
932.95 |
1117.99 |
817.27 |
128.65 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 01/01/2022 |
18.95 |
22.57 |
16.66 |
2.62 |
| 08/01/2022 |
19.23 |
23.00 |
16.92 |
2.65 |
| 15/01/2022 |
19.29 |
23.12 |
16.90 |
2.66 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 01/01/2022 |
411.60 |
490.18 |
56.93 |
108.66 |
| 08/01/2022 |
411.19 |
491.78 |
56.74 |
108.66 |
| 15/01/2022 |
413.12 |
495.06 |
56.96 |
108.66 |
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (13 January 2022) - The current average hide price increased by 4.1% to R5.70/kg from R5.50kg a week ago. The current price is 3.5% higher than the average price a month ago and is 48% higher than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R5.16 Maximum price: R5.80. Please note: Our methodology weighs the prices we collect according to the number of hides they sell in a month. This is done to make it more representative of the prevailing market price. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, and Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, Absa group.
Note: For previous prices, see HERE
Have a look at these links
We invite businesses to send us links to websites, Facebook pages and the like which they feel would be of interest to others. The links below are from our database:
Gani Bros., Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Footwear retailer.
GasArc Mining Supplies, Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, SA. PPE supplier.
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: January 24, 2022.
SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za
Our website www.svmag.co.za
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