S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 16, April 20 2026

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Trading Conditions

‘We’ve reverted to traditional offerings instead of chasing athleisure’

Kamlesh Chagan, American Clothing/The Vault
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trading conditions: Still sluggish overall, but we’re hopeful the recent cold weather will lift winter sales. April is also challenging with public holidays which affects the trading rhythm.

Product strategy: We’ve reverted to traditional offerings vs chasing athleisure. Focus is now on local manufacturers and our leather footwear advantage. Strong sellers: Bolton, Dick Whittington, Eddels, Corrida, Dakotas. Consistent imports: Sebago, Caterpillar, Urban Art. Our in-house Vault leather range, made in SA, gives great value.

Consumer reality: Despite Cape Town’s buzz, development, ‘semigration’, and tourism, spend hasn’t flowed to retail. Customers are stretched and choosing lifestyle/dining over apparel, defaulting to low-budget options. Temu & Shein pressure is real — low price, huge choice, no-hassle returns.

Suburban outlook: Major upgrades planned for Claremont and Wynberg should bring our target customer back. MyCiti will help commuter access. Wynberg street trade is already healthy. We’re seeing interest from chains, internationals, and were recently approached by a Malaysian group for space.

New premises

The Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA) has new premises at 34 Essex Terrace, Westville. Executive director designate Zamani Oliphant said last week they were “still moving in”, but expected to be ready to welcome visitors this week.

Programmes

KZN Clothing and Textile Cluster (KZNCTC) SME Accelerator

Nasreen Kadwa, Associate, BM Analysts
Durban, KZN, SA – We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 SME Accelerator Programme.

  What’s new this year:
The programme has been expanded into a full-year development journey, offering SMEs multiple opportunities for learning, mentoring, networking, and direct engagement with potential buyers.

  We invite you to apply to the KZN Clothing and Textile Cluster (KZNCTC) SME Accelerator. This flagship programme is designed to support high-potential businesses through structured capacity building, targeted coaching, and mentorship and culminates in the opportunity to pitch directly to leading buyers seeking local suppliers.

Programme details:
* Duration: Runs until June 2027
* Commitment: Approximately 7 in-person, full-day sessions in Durban, plus a few short online sessions

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to:
* Strengthen their business through expert support and practical guidance
* Compete for cash prizes
* Build valuable networks with peers and potential customers

If you are ready to take the next step in growing your business, we encourage you to apply and be part of this exciting programme. Apply here

SGS to host free webinar on developments shaping China’s softlines regulatory landscape

Baar, Switzerland – SGS will host a complimentary webinar, “China Market Update and 2025 Spot-check Failure Analysis,” taking place on 22 and 23 April 2026.
     China remains one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets, but it also enforces some of the strictest product quality supervision systems. With authorities increasing inspections and new and updated GB standards coming into force, textile, apparel and footwear businesses face growing pressure to ensure product accuracy, proper labelling and full compliance with mandatory requirements.
     SGS’s expertled webinar will provide a clear, practical overview of the latest developments shaping China’s softlines regulatory landscape. The session will examine the most common noncompliance issues identified through 2025 market spot checks, outline core GB standard obligations and highlight key regulatory and standards updates that companies should prepare for. Presenters Sicy Chen and Debbie Hodgson will also share insights into typical failure patterns, challenges in global supply chains and tools available to reduce compliance risk.
     Attendees will learn how SGS solutions can help brands, retailers and manufacturers meet China’s requirements, prevent costly market-entry delays and strengthen product credibility in this highly regulated market.
     This webinar is ideal for softlines brands, retailers, manufacturers, quality professionals and compliance managers working with or targeting the Chinese market.
     Interested parties should register now for more information.

In case you missed it!

The March/April issue of S&V Protect Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V PROTECT MAGAZINE VOL20 NO2 MARCH/APRIL 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- JCB Footwear appoints Kaliber as new SA distributor.
- More bite than bark: BBF’s upgraded Maverick and Radical styles.

05 PPE Conference
- A review of SA’s first PPE conference, by Leighton Bennett, chairperson of the Safety First Association. - Why bother with PPE on the ‘Road to Zero Harm’? Let’s get realistic, says Tibor Szana, retired chief inspector, Global 365 Health & Safety.
- PPE and the law: Ignore at your peril? Raynard Looch warns standards of enforcement have dropped.
- What if the respirator you rely on to protect your health never sealed properly? Dr Deon Swanepoel of D’Sayensi Occupational Hygiene says SA needs respirators designed for local faces.
- Understanding local and international PPE standards: Clarity in a complex landscape. An interview with Christo Nel, uvex Safety SA MD.
- Selecting the correct protective clothing for a hazardous chemical environment, by Loren Pearson, sales and marketing manager SSA, Dupont.
- Making fall protection practical. Suggestions by Dylan Sutherland, Protekta Safety Gear.
- Proactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protection, by Miguel Bustin, Rebel Safety Gear.
- Other speakers.
- Exhibitors.

21 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.

Advertisers in this Issue
Kaliber (02), Kaliber/De Walt (07), Palm Footwear/TerraPOD (OFC), Rainbow Group (15), Rebel Safety Gear (04), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (12), Sendi Apparel (15).

They Said It

“I love skateboarding, but I’m enthusiastic rather than gifted. Over the last 20 years, I’ve broken 18 bones and replaced 3 neck vertebrae, and I’ve just had my fourth knee op – this one a full replacement. I think I need to grow up.” - Rob Riedlinger, age 51, of Haesloop Agencies, Pinetown, KZN, SA.

“It’s not Thursday.” - Greg Bing, A.P. Jones, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, on why, on Friday, he could answer ‘Well’ to the question, ‘How are you?’.

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

New subscribers last week

Marliz, Chemical Manager, Brits Leathers, Brits, South Africa
Peter John Jacobs, Occupational Hygienist, Sedulitas, Potchefstroom, South Africa
John Lyon, Retired, Shelly Beach, South Africa

Birthdays this week

20/04/1948: Michael Hoffmann, Max-Cowell, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
20/04/1954: Barry Clayton, Shoe City, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
20/04/1957: Johnny Kleynhans, ConsulTan, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
20/04/1960: Glen Mitchell, formerly Shoprite Checkers, Cape Town, W. Cape, and Scott’s, Durban, KZN, SA, now a consultant to chains and manufacturers.
20/04/1963: Angie Tootla, retired, formerly The Rose Lady (closed, now Rawhide SA), Stanger/ KwaDukuza, KZN, SA.
21/04/1959: Jirka Vymĕtal, SAFLIA, Durban, KZN, SA.
21/04/1972: Stanton Pullen, reportedly working in Japan.
22/04/1959: John Comley, Celrose, Stanger, KZN, SA.
22/04/1959: Richard Louw, Quality Store, Ellisras/Lephalale, Limpopo, SA.
22/04/1986: Shaun Moodley, BM Agencies, Durban, KZN, SA.
23/04/1951: Jerry Pillay, Triple S Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
24/04/1958: Mahomed Farhad Casoojee, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
24/04/????: Presheen Jankee, Leatherhaven, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
24/04/1981: Donavan Pelser, Oh Sole Footwear, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
24/04/1992: Andreas Joss, Ally Shoes, Hermanus, W. Cape, SA.
25/04/1945: Leon Retief, retired, formerly commission agent, Modimolle/Nylstroom, Limpopo, SA.
25/04/1955: Maryrose Lesalaisa, Cee Dee Footwear, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
25/04/1963: Neil Barnes, Millbrook Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
25/04/1971: Clinton Cloete, BBF Footwear, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
26/04/1943: Jay Ghëla, Ghëla Dayaram & Sons, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
26/04/1943: Juan Lichnovsky, retired back to Chile, formerly Futura Footwear (now Bata SA), Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/04/1953: Rodney Hill, left the industry, formerly Prime Leathers, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/04/1964: Desmond Swartz, left the industry, formerly DS Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
26/04/1965: Faizel Jeewa, Traford Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/04/1982: Keaton Quarmby, ? previously Falke Eurosocks, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
26/04/1982: Gavin Roberts, Freesurf Agencies, Scottburgh, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

20/04/2015: Moira Pascall, Economic Shoe Store (closed), Paarl, W. Cape, SA.
21/04/2012: MG Moodley (b. 08/04/1922), MG Shoes/Ballucci Footwear (both closed), Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
22/04/2007: Louise Cowie (b.05/06/?), GW Cowie & Co (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
22/04/2024: Ken Moakes (b. 28/12/1944), Northampton, UK, formerly Buckman Africa, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
23/04/2012: Chris van der Merwe (b.05/04/1945), Oasis Tanning, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, SA.
26/04/2005: Bryan Dean (b. 09/01/1939), Amber Footwear (closed), Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
26/04/2012: Roy Eckstein (b. 22/10/1941), Jaguar Shoes, Amshoe (both closed), Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
26/04/2018: Alan Hornby (b. 16/08/1961), Topline Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 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.

Directory entries updated last week

Durburg Clothing (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Rawat Uniforms, Durban, KZN, SA.

Fairs & events updated last week – see calendar for details

18-20 May 2026: Brazilian Footwear, São Paulo, Brazil.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)

Source: https://www.rbm.mw/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)

Source: https://www.boz.zm/

5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (17 April 2026) - The current average hide price decreased by 0.20% to R2,260/kg from R2.264/kg, in the previous week. The current price is 2.47% lower than the average price a month ago and was 18.9% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.00 Maximum price: R2.78. 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, Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, and Zama Sangweni, 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:

JCP Leathers cc, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA. Sheepskin slipper manufacturer.
JCP Workwear & Lifting cc. PPE reseller.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

Have Trump’s tariffs increased offerings to SA importers?

In case you missed it!: The April issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.16, April 22 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Botswana
- Arma: Time for optimism

Lesotho
- Anwary's: March upturn, slowing again

Malawi
- Footwear Centre: Coming out of Covid better than we went in

South Africa
- Dodo's: 'Bring on winter!'
- Casanova: Budgeting is guesswork
- Mike's Sports: A much more optimistic feel

Death notices
- Brian Wallis
- Colin Gerrans

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.16, April 19 2021

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

All the past S&V Weekly Newsletters from January 2016 onwards are available in the newsletter archive.
VIEW THE ARCHIVE - CLICK HERE

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 27 April, 2026. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 24 April 2026.

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

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