S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.11, March 13 2023

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Clothing & textiles under pressure to reach AfCFTA trade agreement

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - Clothing and textile value chains throughout Africa are under pressure to agree on rules governing intra-African trade ahead of a June 2023 deadline set by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Ministers.
      "The biggest issue in the South African value chain is the AfCFTA rules of origin," National Clothing Retail Federation of SA (NCRF) executive director Michael Lawrence said on Friday.
      "The liberalisation intention of the AfCFTA agreement is to have 90% of tariff lines duty free, building up to 97% of tariff lines. Due to unresolved rules of origin, 3 value chains haven't been able to contribute to that 90% threshold - clothing and textiles, automotive, and sugar - and of those, clothing and textiles have by far the highest number of tariff lines to resolve.
      "The key clothing and textile issue affecting the agreement is that the vast majority of African countries - the less developed countries - want a single stage agreement: they either import the yarn and make the fabric or, more commonly, they import the fabric and make the finished item.
      "Countries with far more developed value chains - or countries that plan to have more developed value chains - want a two-stage agreement: yarn and fabric, or fabric and finished item, must be made locally.
      "To put this into context, for AGOA - which is a unilateral concession, not a trade agreement - South African clothing and textile exports to the US require a three-stage conversion, while some other AGOA beneficiary countries require just a single stage.
      "AfCFTA ideally requires a single set of rules for the continent. It's possible, for example, to have a single stage agreement for some clothing and textile tariff lines, and a two-stage agreement for others, but that makes matters more complicated, and requires customs officers to know the differences between the lines. It also offers more scope for fraud.
      "There are some robust and intense conversations taking place at the moment within the clothing and textile community, across the continent.
      "Our position, as retailers, is 'get it resolved'. We cannot plan developmentally for sourcing from Africa until there is resolution on rules of origin. We have a preferred answer: as simple as possible."

National Consumer Commission seeks feedback from importers

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA - The National Consumer Commission (NCC) requests all importers of CTFL goods to complete a questionnaire on a research study covering the cost of compliance with the Consumer Protection Act No 68 of 2008. This is to enable the NCC to assist importers in understanding the provisions of the CPA, establish any challenges experienced, and to provide suggestions in terms of improving compliance . This is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wtQiuhW83UB8-CxTCIffkzWwxOFvMXkSYKskrtl6rm0/edit

Kaap Agri to become KAL Group

Paarl, W. Cape, SA - Diversified agricultural group Kaap Agri Ltd will officially change its name to KAL Group Ltd on 22 March, according to a SENS release.
      KAL Group includes over 70 co-op-style shops in SA and Namibia. Its offering includes outdoor wear, workwear, hunting and camping equipment and sports goods.

2023 Arsutoria course

Durban, KZN, SA - SAFLIA, SAFLEC and Ethekwini Footwear & Leather Cluster will sponsor and organise another 5-day footwear and handbag workshop run by Arsutoria's Edizioni AF from 17 to 21 April at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel.
      Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. More information from priya-eep@saflec.co.za.

VF Corporation closes second green bond to support key sustainability initiatives

Denver, USA (07 March 2023) - VF Corporation announced the closing of a €500 million green bond offering, its second. An amount equivalent to the net proceeds from the offering has been dedicated to advance programmes within the company’s sustainability and responsibility strategy.
      “The overwhelming interest in this offering serves as an endorsement from the investor community for our sustainability agenda,” said Jeannie Renné-Malone, VF’s Vice President of Global Sustainability.
      The transaction garnered demand from a diverse group of investors around the world.
      VF has dedicated an amount equivalent to the green bond net proceeds to support projects that align with key United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, VF’s green bond framework defines funding eligibility criteria in three areas:
- Sustainable Products & Materials, such as those that support VF’s commitment to source 100% of its top 9 materials from regenerative, recyclable or renewable sources by 2030;
- Sustainable Operations & Supply Chain, such as renewable energy installations, and zero-waste distribution centers;
- Natural Carbon Sinks, including reforestation conservation projects, and investments in regenerative agriculture practices.
VF Corporation's brands include The North Face, Vans, Timberland and Dickies.

Deaths

Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA - Leather technician Anthony Pearce, who worked at Woods Tanning, died on 09 January, aged 70, after a short illness. An obituary will follow in the April edition of S&V African Leather.

In case you missed it!

The latest issue of S&V Protect Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V PROTECT MAGAZINE VOL17 NO1 FIRST QUARTER 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Safety Footwear
- Soon it will be time to ditch the basics.
- What's coming in safety footwear 2023? Opinion from Australian brand Kamu.
- How new technology and innovation make the difference in safety footwear. From US safety publication OH&S.
- Next generation safety footwear: A paper by D. Janson et al of the University of Bath which outlines new visions for the fundamental item of PPE.

15 Health
- SA Sugar Association welcomes government's decision to keep sugar tax unchanged while it pursues product diversification.
- 'Health' laws harm small business - opinion by Gary Moore of the Free Market Foundation.

17 Gender Issues
- 'Unisex' may work for fashion, but for PPE it's wrong, says Sisi Safety Wear brand manager Desiree Hlubi.

19 Substance Abuse
- SA needs to tone down its alcohol over-consumption culture, says ALCO-Safe's Rhys Evans.

20 Contamination
- 3M to exit PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.

21 Standards
- ASTM International revises clothing storage units standard.
- ASTM International to address pet product safety.

22 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.

Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (01), Hi-Tec Interceptor (OFC), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (02), ProFit Safety Footwear (08), Rebel SafetyGear (04), S&V Calendar (18), S&V Directory (16), SAFLEC (13), Selective International Footwear Kaliber (06).

They Said It

"As soon as there is a government issue, they drag me out of the cupboard." - Michael Lawrence, executive director, National Clothing Retail Federation, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.

Directory entries updated last week

Arena Trims (Pty) Ltd, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
ITL [International Trimmings & Labels SA (Pty) Ltd], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
ITL KZN, Durban, KZN, SA.
National Braiding Industries (Pty) Ltd, Loskop, KZN, SA.
The Little Slipper Company [Fast Fox Footwear (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
Top Drawer Collection SA (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Urban Mania [Samster Investments cc], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
VJ's Superstore [Rajmina Fashions cc], Humansdorp, E. Cape, SA.

New subscribers last week

Nonhlanhla "Noni", Footwear & Accessories Technologist, The Foschini Group (TFG), Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.

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

13/03/1959: Salim Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/03/1964: Albert Dale, AFD Industries, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
13/03/1965: Eleugene Human, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.
13/03/1966: Ebrahim Shaikh, Kinkle Investments t/a Shoe Lala, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1977: Sarah Chapman, designer, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1981: Colin Muir, emigrated, formerly Pasacojo Marketing Services, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
14/03/1958: Berno Dumas, Bolton Footwear, Great Brak River, W. Cape, SA.
14/03/1966: Silvan Pillay, Shoe Biz, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
15/03/1960: Judy Friend, Safari Leathers, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
15/03/1965: Neil Solomons, Bolton Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
15/03/1972: Vanyo Mangaliso, Sun Goddess, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
15/03/1973: Jacky Hay, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
15/03/1974: Tim Pittaway, Ostrich Emporium, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/03/1961: Doc Motala, Crown Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
16/03/1965: Rod Bloom, Barksole Shoe & Bag Repairs, Cape Town, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/03/1979: Matthew Boltman, Noo Shoes, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
16/03/1987: Pankaj Mistry, Superstar Fashions, Vereeniging, Gauteng, SA.
18/03/1948: Stan Rabinowitz, Footwear Direct [closed], Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/03/1980: Rory Ramsay, Feetfirst Distribution, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/03/1959: Deon van Rensburg, Wayne Plastics, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, SA.
19/03/1972: Morné Pienaar, Deco Memories, Knysna, W. Cape, SA.

13/03/1997: Denis Kalil, Payless Shoes [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
14/03/1988: John Begg, BU Shoe Machinery [closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
17/03/1995: Kees Pulles, Futura Footwear [now Bata SA], Loskop, KZN, SA.
16/03/2008: Tilly Amery, FISA [closed], Durban, 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.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (02 March 2023) - The current average hide price remained unchanged at R4.20/kg from a week ago. The current price is 0.3% higher than the average price a month ago and 39.0% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R3.75 Maximum price: R5.00. 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:
Jamnada's Tailors & Outfitters, Pietersburg/Polokwane, Limpopo, SA. Men's outfitter.
Janine's Clothing, Hermanus, W. Cape, SA. Women's boutique.

Classified Adverts

CHOMMIES SEEKS PRODUCTION MANAGER

Chommies, based in Cape Town, is looking for a production manager to manage the in-house production studio. Must have experience in sample and batch sample production, as well as full scale manufacturing according to set targets, timelines and quality control. Must have excellent people, analytical and organisation skills, knowledge of leather production and experience working with inventory and production software (ideally DEAR). Minimum requirements - tertiary studies, car and driver's license. Remuneration negotiable for the right individual. Please send applications to katrina@chommies.com.

To see what we do, visit www.Chommies.com

Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: March 20, 2023.

SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za

Our website www.svmag.co.za