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- Rolfes management get to know new colleaguesSpeciality chemicals distributor the Solevo Group, which acquired various Rolfes businesses in SA last year to add to its African portfolio, had a teambuilding and strategic session for senior management in Côte d'Ivoire recently. Pictured are the 4 South Africans (from left): Quintin Marais, MD of Rolfes Leather, Justin Ghersie, co ...moreChallenges in the global footwear market amid economic strainDiscussions in Hong Kong: At a recent network session with fellow Footwear Council members from a few other countries while at the APLF, the topic for discussion revolved around the almost flat line and dip seen in manufacturing and exports with no significant increase.Of course, the likes of India and a few others commented on thing ...moreAfrica Agri Tech Conference and Exhibition: ‘All problems have a common solution – technology’Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The third Africa Agri Tech Conference and Exhibition (AAT), taking place from 18 to 20 March 2025 at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria, is the gateway to the latest AgTech breakthroughs.“The biggest challenges facing food producers today – rising input costs, erratic weather, theft, and logis ...moreFrom crisis to catwalk: Can South Africa follow Portugal’s footsteps to save its footwear industry?Not long ago, Portugal’s footwear industry was on the brink of collapse, drowning under a wave of cheap Chinese imports. Factories shut down, jobs disappeared, and the sector seemed doomed. But instead of fading away, Portugal fought back reinventing itself into one of the world’s most sought-after footwear producers.South Afr ...moreSAFLEC’s perspective: Elevating SA footwear and handbags in a digital worldDurban, KZN, SA – The South African Footwear and Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) firmly believes that the future of South African footwear and handbags lies in embracing technology, prioritizing sustainability, and targeting niche global markets. The rise of e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized consumer beh ...moreWhat if South Africa loses AGOA? A hypothetical scenario for the footwear export industryThe interconnected nature of trade, politics, and diplomacy reminds us that no industry operates in isolation. The possibility of South Africa losing its AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) benefits is purely hypothetical, but exploring such scenarios helps us plan for resilience and adaptability. This article is a thought exercise ...moreThe Road Ahead: A forecast for South Africa’s footwear and leather goods industriesDurban, KZN, SA – The South African footwear and leather goods industries are navigating a challenging yet potentially transformative period. Shaped by a mix of longstanding hurdles and emerging opportunities, their future remains uncertain as the global market continues to shift rapidly in the wake of COVID-19. While difficulties p ...moreThe Complete Shoemaker – and GolferObituary: Michael Lambrakis – Scotts Group, Frame Group, Poly-Soles, OG Footwear, Kalistos Footwear, Lambella Footwear, Andreoli Shoes, ShoePairMarket (04/04/1945-20/09/2024) ...moreBata SA: Renewed effort to grow brands with chainsBubblegummers to be ‘a priority product’Durban, KZN, SA – Broadening Bata South Africa’s brand base is a priority – perhaps the priority – for country manager Lorraine Dyer, who joined in August with a background managing apparel brands including Converse and Calvin Klein.That has been the goal under su ...moreGlobal footwear trends and the impact of evolving consumer behaviour on exportsSponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC).The worldwide footwear sector is experiencing notable changes driven by technology advancements, evolving fashion trends, and shifting consumer preferences. Below are the significant trends and shifts in consumer purchasing habits.Current Trends in Footwear1. Emphasis on s ...more‘We have and will continue to investigate sourcing opportunities for apparel’Several SA raw materials make it into H&M’s value chain, but so far, no finished goods ...moreManagement changes at Bata SADurban, KZN, SA – Bata SA country manager Michael Wyatt has been promoted to president of Bata Africa-Middle East and Bata Industrials.The new Bata SA country manager is Lorraine Dyer, who has over 20 years retail and wholesale experience in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.In a release, Bata SA said “her track re ...moreClarks’ Indian departure — what went wrong?A report from Yahoo Finance on August 27, 2024, reveals that Clarks, the iconic British footwear brand, is closing its stores in India due to "differences over terms" with its local partner, Reliance Retail.This unexpected development underscores the critical importance of aligning with local partners and effectively m ...moreSAFLEC AGM – ‘recovery after the storm’Sponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC). Durban, KZN, SA – This year’s SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) AGM – the 22nd – was a much smaller occasion than in previous years, an acknowledgement of a reduced budget. It was, however, quite upbeat. ...moreDrip Footwear’s financial crisis - a cautionary taleRapid Expansion BackfiresDrip Footwear, a once-promising South African sneaker brand, is facing a severe financial crisis that has sparked intense scrutiny and debate. The company’s rapid expansion into shopping malls has backfired spectacularly, leaving it with a R20 million debt, a foreign exchange blunder, and the looming threat ...moreUnderstanding the issues using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in OHSArtificial intelligence is an innovative and transformative technology that has been making waves across various industries & today is the big buzzword in business. But very few of us understand what AI is and means, including OHS practitioners who are starting to use AI in the OHS field.Firstly, the Occupation Health & Safety fie ...moreUnderstanding how compliance training and the QCTO apply to your workplacePotchefstroom, N.W. Province, SA (17 July 2024) – In South Africa, navigating the rapidly changing landscape of workplace training can feel overwhelming. We are in the midst of a momentous transition to the Occupational Qualification Sub-Framework (OQSF) overseen by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and this shif ...moreHappiest as a technical shoemakerObituary: Stephan Berrill – Jack & Jill, Paul Moeller & Co., Adidas, Angels Shoes (29/03/1956-15/07/2024) ...moreSpringbok sponsors – and as a sports shop we can’t get a single jerseyPort Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – What we hear is that both Nike and Adidas are losing sales internationally.Here, however, we’re affected by Nike’s Springbok sponsorship deal – as a sports shop, we can’t get a single Springbok rugby jersey or replica shirt. We couldn’t get them during the World Cup, we cou ...moreBirkenstock shines, but let’s not forget the journeyBirkenstock’s recent performance is impressive. Some key financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, include:* Revenue of €481.2 million, representing an increase of 23%.* Strong double-digit revenue growth across all segments, including reven ...moreHoka — from running niche to lifestyle phenomenonA Story of Growth and TransformationHoka, founded in 2009 in France and acquired by Deckers Brands in 2013, has revolutionized the athletic footwear market with its signature “maximalist” shoes featuring oversized midsoles. Its annual sales for the year ending March 31, 2024, reached $1.807 billion, a 27.9% surge, showcasing i ...moreRetirement: ‘A long and mostly enjoyable journey’Durban, KZN, SA – After 33 years at the Leather Bargaining Council and at the ripe age of 63 years, the curtains have finally come down. My stint as the General Secretary of the Council and Principal Officer of the Leather Industry Provident Fund comes to an end on 31 May 2024.I had a long journey that was mostly enjoyable and at ti ...moreWage negotiations: Tanning – no settlementThe Tanning wage negotiation took place on 14 and 15 May. “The parties were unable to reach agreement after 2 rounds of wage negotiations,” Gerald Naidoo, general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA, said on Friday. “The parties agreed to meet again on 10 June as an attempt to reach ...moreWhy leather factories in Jinja have closedJinja, Uganda (Monday 06 May 2024) – Four leather factories in Jinja City have closed, leaving hundreds of former workers unemployed.The factories are SWT Leather Industries located on Mutibwa Road, Mehaka Leather Exim Smc Limited, Uganda Leather and Tannery Industries, Jinja, and Loyal Small-Scale Industries located on Nile Crescen ...moreWage negotiations: General Goods & Handbags – NULAW settlesCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trade union NULAW accepted the employer's offer of a 7% increase on wages and an increase on the holiday bonus from 6 days’ pay to 7 days’ pay, Gerald Naidoo, general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA, said on Friday. Rival union SACTWU “will consult ...more4Tify Africa resurrection bid withdrawnThe application to resurrect 4Tify Africa – formerly North Safety – and other subsidiaries of African Boomerang Holdings, was withdrawn following the death in March of former CEO Craig Garvie, attorney Kobus van Niekerk, of JI van Niekerk Inc., has confirmed.“The business rescue applications were withdrawn,” he wro ...moreAPLF Leather, Materials+, Fashion Access: Infix Creations : Handmade handbagsEast London, E. Cape, SA – Infix Creations won the best traditional handbag award and was chosen to feature in the trend area, positioning South Africa as a trend leader. This was a very big achievement with world buyers present. ...moreSAFLEC: As world output exceeds demand, SA is still an attractive source of foowearSAFLEC executive director Nerisha Jairaj took part in session 1 of the Global Footwear Executive Summit, which covered footwear production and its supply chain.The theme of the session was to discuss the current scenario where the demand for footwear is significantly lower than the available supply, and finding a balance for the supply ch ...moreAI: understanding requiredThis article is a hybridisation between an artificially generated article and an editor’s contributions in blue. The article was generated using Chat GPT 3.5 and Deepai.org for the image.rnrnChat GPT was asked the question: rnPlease write 1200 words on how human thinkers in the tanning industry will be replaced by artificial intelligence going forward. ...moreStitching success - exploring the future of clothing and footwear in Sub-Saharan AfricaDespite gloomy forecasts, research points to brighter prospects for Africa's fashion industry, driven by anticipated population growth. Contrary to what I thought before, it seems the secret does not lie in choosing better leaders but in having more babies :) ...moreObituary: Douglas Andrew Patterson-Roberts – Kronies Footwear, Verona Shoes (06/06/1943-11/03/2024): A factory that was ‘a happy place to be’: Those were the daysJoins the footwear division of Feltex Industries – later R. Faulks & Co. – as a teenaged apprentice under the watchful eye of his father, Andy Patterson-Roberts, in about 1958. Studies via the SA Institute of the Boot & Shoe Industry and qualifies in 1965. Becomes a supervisor on the production floor in ...moreDeforestation is the number one risk topic facing our industryTraceability is the key, and the danger is that noncompliance will lead to brands moving further away from leather as a material choice because it’s too challenging to source ...moreBeyond the lens: How Vision AI is transforming PPE usage and monitoringIt’s an increasingly surveilled world – now Big Brother can keep an eye on staff not complying with PPE rules. ...moreAssociation of Construction Health and Safety Management appoints 2 new directorsPort Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – The Association of Construction Health and Safety Management (ACHASM) has appointed 2 new directors.Benny Boyce, who is registered as a Construction Health & Safety Manager (CHSM) with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), is the Health, Safety, ...moreThe R-CTFL Masterplan, 5 years on: It’s done nothing for us, most footwear sources claim, but plan’s backers say they ‘need to engage more’Has the R-CTFL Masterplan, launched 5 years ago, done anything to increase local procurement of footwear and leather goods by the chains that agreed to be part of it?It depends on who you ask, and the answers are very different.In the ‘yes’ corner is Michael Lawrence, who wears 2 hats – as director of the National Clothi ...moreMagic: Lots of news, but we can’t get hold of itFor the first time, the Las Vegas Magic show featured an African Textiles and Apparel Pavilion, hosting 68 exhibitors from 35 countries, and organised and sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Africa Trade and Investment programme (USAID ATI) and theProsper Africa US Trade & Investment initiative.The ...moreNakara: SLF audit ‘reassurance for customers’Windhoek, Namibia – I have been appointed MD of Nakara Tannery & Manufacturing as of January, and I am pleased to report that Nakara has been audited by the Sustainable Leather Foundation and that it is now an SLF compliance partner.With regards to the benefits and learnings during the auditing process:The SLF auditing process b ...moreFebruary workshops in ZimbabweOn 12-13th February SLF deliverED a 2-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe where tanneries from Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Zambia cAme together to participate.This was a continuation of the work under the SIPS project that began last year, and the last issue of S&V African Leather reported on the positive results of the work already complet ...moreEU Green Claims Directive (EUGCD):In other news, on Wednesday 17th January 2024, the EU overwhelmingly voted for the adoption of the Green Claims Directive, with 593 votes in favour, 21 against and 14 abstentions. The Directive that is designed to prevent companies from misleading consumers through “greenwashing” or vague marketing claims, will now go for Cou ...moreFashion World Tokyo: Products that are identifiably African attract interestA series on successful South African footwear and leather goods exporters. Sponsored by the SA Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC).A South African delegation returned to Japan’s Fashion World Tokyo trade fair from 10-12 October, for the first time post-covid. Described as ‘Japan’s largest international fashion ...moreBresan ‘not in business rescue’Howick, KZN, SA - Despite to the rumours doing the rounds, Bresan Footwear is not in business rescue, but like a lot of businesses in the manufacturing sector, we have been affected by the current state of the South African economy.Post lockdown, the business climate has changed and while we regained our production levels to pre covid lev ...moreCobblers Lunch: A final farewellCape Town, W. Cape, SA - The annual Cape Town Cobblers' Lunch, which was first held in 2004, has been discontinued, the organising committee said last week.Brian Schenck, Pierre Marais and Anthony Lopez said declining attendance was behind their decision."Even though there was always great enthusiasm and a lot of chin wagging that to ...moreA turbulent month for the Leather IndustryA busy and turbulent month for the leather industry, particularly in the UK, as we saw one of our oldest tanneries, Pittards, head into administration, resulting in the loss of 150 jobs in the UK and 850 jobs in Ethiopia. That news was followed just a week later with a letter from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton to in ...moreJim Green ‘the only SA manufacturer who pays full rate’, claims YouTube influencerAn “influencer” who promotes Jim Green Footwear on YouTube has made the claim that it is “one of the only if not the only” South African shoe manufacturers that pays 100% of the prescribed [wage] rate. He said others paid 65% of the rate.The influencer, who operates under the name Rose Anvil, made the claim in a pr ...moreUnexpected twist: could social media topple shopping giant?23 August 2023 – TikTok, the popular short-video app owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., is rapidly growing its TikTok Shop feature in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, where it has found success as a livestreamed marketplace for in-app shopping. The platform’s success in this region is crucial, as it faces potenti ...moreSustainability Glossary: A guide to picking the right term for the application – AND helping you understand what this is all aboutIf you had to pick the most used word from the many in the environmental wave which is engulfing the apparel industry, it would probably be ‘sustainability’.There are several other very common terms and words, like ‘global warming’, ‘carbon offsetting’ and ‘biodiversity’.All of them describe ...moreCalifornia shop owner shot dead over LGBTQ+ pride flag displayIn a tragic turn of events, Laura Ann Carleton, a California store owner, was fatally shot amidst a dispute concerning an LGBTQ+ Pride flag displayed outside her shop. According to The Guardian, Carleton, aged 66, lost her life after a confrontation at her clothing store on August 18, 2023.During the altercation, a male suspect repor ...moreSAFLEC AGM: Unity in diversityExport via chain retailers, export via brands, export via fairs – all roads that lead to export growth are worth exploring. ...moreSustainability: Sam Setter's 'Pills' - For readers who need some wry medicinal humourLet me stick to the subject of sustainability, which by now is the magic word in every industry. So, everything that you produce must be ‘sustainable’, whatever that means, otherwise the big brands and distribution chains, famous shops, etc., will not buy your products anymore. Since sustainability is interpreted as an environ ...moreAlan D. Jackson: Exchange rate has made imports very difficultDurban, KZN, SA – It’s a difficult position to be in selling imported leathers now as the landed prices from overseas are really expensive compared to local prices. The exchange rate is not helping at all.Clients are also struggling in getting orders from retailers who are always looking for cheaper prices.Basically, it's a st ...moreSustainable Leather Foundation: Budget now for improvement – legislation is comingAs most of mainland Europe begin their summer break, it is usually around this time of year that we can take stock, catch up on those administrative tasks and plan for the rest of the year. Well, perhaps it is a sign of our fast-changing industry landscape, that means this year we are still moving at full speed just to stay on top of the ...moreWinter was fair, wait-and-see for summerDurban, KZN, SA –I think most businesses had quite a good winter. Boots are being heavily discounted now, but that’s the end of season and everyone is clearing the last of their stock in preparation for summer. However, summer is proving slow. Retailers are taking a wait-and-see attitude, not wanting to commit too far forward, ...moreBorage: ISO certification helps open doors ‘in difficult market’Pinetown, KZN, SA – The Rainbow Group cc, which includes Borage Textile Laminators, was certified ISO 9001:2015 compliant late last year, allowing it to supply entities which require quality assurance certification throughout their supply line.“Even in a tough environment, that’s helped bring in new business,” said ...moreSouth Africa’s market-leading safety footwear styles a testament to local developmentWith a 120-year history in occupational footwear, integrated workplace safety solutions provider BBF Safety Group remains Africa’s largest manufacturer of safety footwear. It also continues to expand its range of head-to-toe Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). ...moreHandel Street Medical to make 4-ply masks in conjunction with US technology partner Ascend Performance MaterialsDurban, KZN, SA – Medical mask manufacturer Handel Street Medical is gearing up to manufacture 4-ply technology masks made from zinc-embedded polyamide polymer matrix supplied by our technology partner, Ascend Performance Materials.Production, at a rate of 20 000 masks/day, will begin in September 2023 and will be available to ...moreA very talented man who tried his hand at many things, some successfully, some not, but he did live a full lifeObituary: Peter Howard – King Tanning, Pelts Products, and others (01/06/1947-26/07/2022) ...moreGVC feedback on Paris talks to ban plastic wasteFive members of the Vinyl Institute of the United States represented SAVA and fellow members of the Global Vinyl Council at the United Nations negotiations on a binding global agreement on plastic waste last week. During ten days in France, the PVC team met with more than 50 national delegations, trade associations, al ...moreBata appointmentsDurban, KZN, SA – Bata Group has made several appointments.Bata South Africa's finance director of 2 years, Saket Mohta, has been promoted to regional finance director - Africa and Middle East Region for Bata Group, and is succeeded by Denise Moodley as the first woman FD at Bata SA.Bata SA country manager, Michael Wyatt, said of Mo ...moreInclusivity tested: Major retailer faces backlash, removes LGBTQ merchandiseUSA Newspapers were abuzz on May 23, 2023, when reports surfaced that Target, a prominent retailer, promptly removed certain LGBTQ merchandise from its stores due to significant customer backlash. Target had previously introduced its Pride Collection, an initiative aimed at celebrating inclusivity. However, confrontations between customer ...moreWage Negotiations: Footwear sector settlesGerald Naidoo (General Secretary/Principal Officer), National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA Durban, KZN, SA - The parties to the Footwear Sector have concluded the 2023 wage negotiations and have reached agreement as follows:(1) Wages and Wage RatesWith effect from 1 July 2023, the basic wage on all prescribed operation ...moreSustainability: Adapting to a changing worldOn 15 and 16 May, Northampton University held its inaugural Sustainability Summit with the central theme of “Adapting to a changing world – addressing our shared sustainability challenges”.The 2-day event, which was held at the University’s Waterside Campus, brought together representatives from local, national and ...moreRetail June 2023: The long weekend: Hope, but not much optimismFriday, 16 June, is SA’s last public holiday until August, and a long weekend to boot. We asked an assortment of retailers whether they anticipated an upswing in trade and whether they had made any special preparations. Anca Facauaru, proprietor, Anca ShoesKempton Park, Gauteng, SA - Things are very quiet, with people not having mon ...moreArsutoria trend workshops: 'You have the most multi-ethnic society in Africa - use the inspirations'Durban, KZN, SA - The annual Arsutoria footwear and handbag international trends workshops in South Africa - which have run since 2017 - have, over the years, opened a window onto the fashion world for around 200 mainly design staff, most of whom would have had little opportunity to travel to fairs.The courses continued right through Covi ...moreRetailing: Load shedding despondency hits shopsMuhammad Laher, Bombay’s of Nigel/Sports FusionNigel, Gauteng, SA - This has been the toughest start to the year for many years. There are many issues, including of course load shedding and the rising costs of essential products. That is reflected in the spending patterns in apparel - our school we ...moreWage negotiations: No deal for Footwear SectorGerald Naidoo, General Secretary/Principal Officer, National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SADurban, KZN, SA - Feedback on Footwear wage negotiations: After two rounds of wage negotiations, the parties were unable to reach a settlement. SAFLIA was given until 27 May 2023 to obtain a revis ...moreWage negotiations: NULAW accepts General Goods and Tanning offers, SACTWU has still to respondGerald Naidoo, General Secretary/Principal Officer, National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SAGeneral Goods and Handbag Sector:The second round of wage negotiations took place in Cape Town on 03 and 04 May 2023. The Employer Organisation has made the below offer of settlement to the NULAW & SACTWU.1) &n ...moreRetailing: Comment by Jerry Robins of Elegant ManJerry Robins, Elegant ManMatatiele, Mt Ayliff and Mthatha (E. Cape), Kokstad (KZN), SA - Temperatures are down and winter is on its way but we hope that business will warm up. Times are tough … we are now competing with 25+ new stores post lockdown in our small little town.Nationals and chains hav ...moreSustainable Leather Foundation awarded contract from Joint Action SIPS to support improvement and development in the SADC regionOn 26 April the Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) announced the successful completion of a tender process with the Joint Action Support towards Industrialization and the Productive Sectors in the SADC region (SIPS) project to support sustainable and environmental compliance for the leather value chain in the Southern African Developmen ...moreUNIDO safety course for leather industryCreating safe and sustainable supply chains for leather workers: UNIDO launches new Occupational Safety and Health course targeting the leather manufacturing sector. Acting together to build a positive safety and health culture – a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work. ...moreDespite challenges, cautious optimism for summerWe asked 20 manufacturers and importers of footwear, handbags and belts what their order positions for autumn/winter were like, and how spring/summer sales were shaping up. ...moreDecember 2022 trading - good for some, others affected by arbitrary or unexpected factorsOmar Hassim, Shoe BizBulawayo, Zimbabwe – The relative stability of the Zim Dollar over the last 6 months has had a positive effect of stabilizing prices and an overall positive effect on trading over the last quarter. December sales have been fairly good up to now and hopefully those dark dreary days of the previous ...moreUSA shoplifting epidemicTinashe Mandirahwe, former owner of Cathula Sandals in Harare, Zimbabwe, now a Canadian businessman and retail analyst, writes an occasional article for S&V on some aspect of the footwear business. Here he discusses a subject we know well.The theft problem I used to deal with almost daily when I was running Cathula Sandals in Africa i ...more'Give women with bigger feet the opportunity to buy affordable shoes from chain stores'In a petition put out yesterday by 'change.org, The world's platform for change', (https://www.change.org/), South African consumer Tilla Victor wrote: Do you know the frustration? You need shoes for work, a wedding or a hiking trip. ...moreDecember 2022 trading - a very mixed pictureReaders will note that most respondents this week are from the Western Cape. This is probably because I emailed Western Cape retailers earlier on Saturday than retailers in KZN and Gauteng. I will attempt to get responses from a much wider geographical spread this week for the newsletter to come out on Tuesday next week.Peter Allen, Burto ...moreDecember 2022 trading - a slow startFeedback from some retailers regarding the December 2022 trading conditions encountered in areas of South Africa and neighbouring states. ...moreBlack Friday 2022: Further responseBoardridersDurban, KZN, SA – "A lot of retailers have told me they didn't have a good Black Friday," said Boardriders sales and marketing manager Dane Patterson. "We had a fantastic period." "Boardriders opened Black Friday to Boardriders Club members from Friday 18th ...moreBlack Friday 2022: Mixed responseWe asked 35 retailers - mostly privately owned chains and mini-chains - across SA, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Zimbabwe - for a 1-sentence comment on Black Friday. Just 10 responded, 1 whose response is under They Said It, 1 to promise a response later today, 1 to say 'no comment', and another to say he didn't offer it. ...moreCompetition Commission approves Karan takeover of Triple A groupPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Subject to a package of public interest conditions, the Competition Tribunal has approved the proposed merger whereby Karan Beef Feedlot and Karan Beef (Pty) Ltd intend to acquire the businesses of SK Caine Farming, Caine Farming (Pty) Ltd and Triple A Meat (Pty) Ltd. T ...moreBlack Friday: You might as well make the most of it, because other retailers willCape Town, W. Cape, SA - It's Black Friday on Friday. This American concept only arrived in SA in 2014, and has been viewed with mixed feelings by local retailers. We asked Michael Lawrence, executive director of the National Clothing Retail Federation, how enthusiastic his chain members were about Black Friday, and whether it had a negat ...moreTrading conditions: Better than last year, but nowhere near pre-CovidJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA – The foot count in the Oriental Plaza, Fordsburg, is up, which is an indicator of improved trading, said M.H. Abdulla, member of men's lifestyle outfitter Casual Affair. "It's not going to be like the old days, pre-Covid, but business is definitely up on last ye ...more'Dramatic turnaround' for wedding sectorBedfordview, Gauteng, SA - Retailers specialising in weddings and matric dances were among the worst hit by lockdowns, but for those who survived, there has been a complete turnaround, says Liz de Freitas, owner of Glam & Glitz. "It started picking up in September last year," she said. &quo ...more'Revolutionary sugar tannage will answer leather's sustainability critics'Böblingen, Germany (22 September 2022) - Schill+Seilacher GmbH launched SUCCUIR, a new pre-tannage and tannage at this year’s Lineapelle, September 2022 Trade Fair. The product is based on a triose that is derived from vegetable oil waste streams. A White Paper was also launched at the fair which details the technology. The tec ...moreLots of challenges in Malawi, but wealthier consumers still prefer qualityIqbal Hajat, Director, Footwear Centre Ltd, in Blantyre, Malawi, answers our questions.Month-by-month, how trading this year has compared with last year AND pre-covid.Generally, we are seeing approximately 20% increase in sales value over last year, but this does not mean we are doing a higher volume of sales; rather it could be due to th ...moreallfashion Sourcing: Exhibitors can sell to the publicCape Town, W. Cape, SA - allfashion Sourcing Cape Town will be taking place alongside SA Menswear Week as part of The Week of fashion in 2022 on the 29th September to the 1st October. allfashion sourcing Cape Town is a business-oriented market place for the textile and fashion industry, combining African ...more'The joy has gone out of making shoes'Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA - 2022 has most definitely been one of our most challenging years in a long time. The year started off positively, and we have had a few busy months, but overall we are trading way down on previous years. Staff absenteeism, material supply problems and rising costs a ...moreRetail: KZN: For the focused, demand is thereDurban, KZN, SA - Airways Tailors & Outfitters has adapted to trading conditions by sharing premises and concentrating on its core competence - tailoring. Owner Navin Khoosal has moved into Wayne Matthysen's Bluedot store. "He's the retailer, I'm the tailor," he said. He said there had &quo ...moreRetail: KZN: Finding ways of copingEstcourt, KZN, SA - "Business is challenging," said Mahomed Vahed, proprietor of All Shoes & Luggage. "People don't have money, and it's difficult to source basic core stock, especially of imported goods." He has transformed his business to cope with changing circumstances. Travel ...moreArno moves back to JoziJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Wholesaler Ismail Cassim & Sons cc has acquired the Arno men's footwear brand from Tego Footwear. Further information on its plans will follow. Arno originally belonged to Villani Shoes, and was its principal leather moccasin, smart casual and sandal brand. From the 1990s ...moreProject Dyad: Merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary designProject Dyad, Leather goods manufacturer, was co-founded by Jessika Balzer and Vincent Urbain. In this issue, Jessika answers our questions. ...moreLemaitre Safety Footwear: Focus on comfortPinetown, KZN, SA - As a BBF Safety Group product, Lemaitre Safety Footwear is driven by passion, dedication, pride and a commitment to high-quality products that keep those who build South Africa safe. For over 30 years, Lemaitre has continued to cater for all industries. Our hand-made safety shoes help the tough South African workforce to continue building a stronger nation step by step. ...moreMICAM puts the focus on sustainabilityThe footwear trade fair goes green with a dedicated area, new certification mark, and a robust awareness-raising activity aimed at the footwear industry ...moreObituary: Chris Bezuidenhout - The cross trainer mourns the loss of GMObituary: Chris Bezuidenhout - The Cross Trainer (11/12/1951-16/12/2021) Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Frame Leisure Trading, T/A The Cross Trainer, is saddened to announce the passing of its beloved General Manager, Chris Bezuidenhout. “Chris spearheaded many businesses, with the inclusion of taking our company and facili ...moreIT solutions for stable supply chainsThe Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Germany, describes itself as the world’s leading applied research organization, and we frequently carry its reports in S&V Footwear & Leather Goods' sister publication, S&V Protect. This report, however, is pertinent for all our publications. ...moreBangladesh – The responsibility of potentialDeborah Taylor, MD of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, took part in a Bangladesh International Investment Summit in November. Here she writes about the summit and visits to tanneries and leather goods and footwear manufacturers. ...moreFish skin leather project proposed to aid W. Cape joblessFinanced by its social impact programme, Stellenbosch University is investigating a fish skin tanning project to assist jobless people in nearby coastal communities. ...moreSGS Joins SLFSGS, the French-based testing, inspection and certification company, has joined Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) as a Contributing Partner! ...moreSustainable Leather Foundation: The goal is to lift the entire tanning industry, from grass roots to blue chip, into a sustainable modelInternationally, leather is under fire both from (unfairly, generally speaking) the animal welfare lobby and (with much more justification in some instances) the environmental lobby. In Europe, which is the epicentre of anti-leather sentiment, individuals and companies in the leather industry have responded by creating bodies to both educate the public of leather's bona fides and to encourage the leather industry to live up to those expectations. ...moreWhen the shoe doesn’t fit – why women need to demand female-specific safety footwear in the workplaceOver the years, women have begun to make up a greater proportion of the workforce, and this includes sectors that have typically been male-dominated such as mining, manufacturing and construction. This increase in women workers in more physical industries shines a spotlight on the need for female-specific safety gear, especially footwear. ...moreLocal production up, imports down, pressure on pricesSafety footwear has so far survived the pandemic relatively unscathed - no life support from government, and apparently no casualties. ...moreThe Impact of Online Retailing on China’s Apparel MarketConsumers are increasingly turning towards online retailers to buy apparel. In China, e-commerce now accounts for over one quarter of all non-food retailing. How can brands succeed in this competitive market? It would be wrong to think the 2020 pandemic caused consumers to shift their shopping habits away from ‘bricks and mortar&rsq ...moreItalian shoe machinery expert - Obituary: Brian Wallis - BU, Newtech, Shoetech and Safety-Boyz (16/10/1945-09/04/2021)Durban, KZN, SA - Shoe machinery expert Brian Wallis died unexpectedly on April 09, aged 75. Born and raised in Port Elizabeth, he entered the footwear industry in his early 20s when he joined British United, at that time by far the dominant force in footwear machinery in SA, where he trained as a machinery technician. There he also met h ...moreIFEMA: Spanish fair organiser says hybrid events will lead to significant growthMadrid, Spain (April 13, 2021) - Spanish trade fair organiser IFEMA Madrid, which includes the twice-yearly Momad shoe fairs in its portfolio of over 50 fairs, says digital platforms and services and the hybridisation of its fairs will add 30% to current turnover over the next 3 years, adding more than €40 million in revenue. L ...moreThe legacy of the Maxeco boot from LemaitrePinetown, KZN, SA - The Lemaitre Maxeco - now part of the BBF Safety Group's footwear range - has shod generations of South African workers over the last 30 years, and almost 10 million pairs have been produced - a very rare achievement in this country. Every legacy has to start somewhere. It’s a story based on the recollections of ...moreEvolving to survive: Suggestions for retailersThere was a time, not too long ago, when footwear retailers, wholesalers, importers and manufacturers around the globe could rely on the certainty that their specific skills would see them through for time to come. Market forces were relatively simple and could be dealt with effectively. ...moreLeather Bargaining Council seeks former workers who are owed moneyDurban, KZN, SA – The Leather Bargaining Council is trying to find the below mentioned persons who worked at Trafford Trading (part of the Spectrum Group) between the period 1 May 2003 and 24 February 2004. The Bargaining Council is holding monies that are due to them and would like to give them their money. The Bargaining Counci ...moreEdgars' move to Durban 'contrary to agreement' say former staffRetailability's decision to relocate Edgars' head office in December from Johannesburg to Durban was contrary to a promise made to staff and has left about 60% Edgars' merchandise staff without employment, sources said on condition of anonymity. In the case of the footwear department, it is understood th ...moreImportant factors to consider in choosing a Working at Height training provider:By Anderson Cilliers, training manager, Protekta Safety Gear “In the midst of an ordinary training day, I try to remind myself that I am preparing for the extraordinary.” - Shalane Flanagan Working at heights is globally regarded as one of the highest risk activities on any site whether it be maintenance, installatio ...moreBBF's Lemaitre celebrates 30 years of Maxeco as it approaches 10 million pairsPinetown, KZN, SA - Lemaitre and Maxeco’s stories began with a series of firsts. As pioneers of the country’s safety footwear industry, it used its first direct injection moulding machine to deliver the first double density PU footwear made available in South Africa. Maxeco has since gone on to become the number one sold safet ...moreDurban cobbler to close shop after 99 yearsBy Janine Moodley, The Post, Dec 23, 2020Durban, Gauteng – It is an end of an era for a Durban shoe repair shop that will close after 99 years of being in business. Natvai 'Bhikhoo' Harie, a third-generation owner of HD Kalidas & Co in the Durban CBD, said it was a tough decisi ...moreLLF Digital: What a blast!Lagos, Nigeria - The just concluded LLF Digital was an absolute blast! LLF was this year’s edition of the Lagos Leather Fair. The event took place from 19th-22nd November 2020, it was a 100% virtual and was nothing short of amazing. The 4-days were enlightening, filled with insightful conversations, and impactful masterclasses. LLF ...moreNCRF: All products can be sold, summer imports allowed, but lessons will have to be learntCape Town, W Cape, SA – Any apparel retailer can sell any item of apparel, all apparel retailers are allowed to have all members of staff at work, and the only restrictions now are hygiene - masks, sanitizers and social distancing. That's the situation as of today as far as the National Clothing Retailers' Federation understand ...moreNCRF: Summer merchandise 'a worry'Cape Town, W Cape, SA – Different lockdown levels in different parts of the country from the end of May, "could lead to some really odd situations", National Clothing Retail Federation of SA executive director Michael Lawrence said on Friday. "However, [the National Corivavirus Command Council] has given itself ...moreBusby 1: Consumer frenzyGermiston, Gauteng, SA – On 1 May when retail level 4 was unlocked there was frenzy in the malls. Customers were walking around with 4 to 5 bags of purchases from all retailers, revealing that winter purchases had not yet been made. People were also wanting to get out and so there were many feet in the malls. The result ...moreBusby 2: Awaiting clarity on travelGermiston, Gauteng, SA – Unfortunately under Section/phase 4 of the lockdown restrictions, Frasers stores are not allowed to trade and we are only doing sales through our online channels. When we open - hopefully by Friday we will receive positive news - we will have a clearer view of how the travel restrictions globally, as well a ...moreAmerican Clothing/The Vault: Started with a bang, now more of a whimperGermiston, Gauteng, SA – Since restarting earlier this month, the first week started off with a good buzz, with customers eager to shop after the long recess of lockdown with all clothing stores closed. The past 2 weeks have been slow to quiet. We are far off from our usual trading patterns.   ...moreBresan Footwear: Covering costs main priority nowPietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – We started up after 2 days of preparing our factory to comply with the new OHS Act. It has been a hectic 2 weeks and the exact number of employees we are permitted to have on site has been a bit confusing. We have been operating with 30% of our staff for the past 2 weeks, which has not been financia ...moreZambia’s crocodile farmers poised to upscale investmentLusaka, Zambia – Zambia’s crocodile farmers are poised to upscale investment, production and exports of skins following government’s intervention to suspend the 10% export duty on the industry. The removal of the 10% duty on crocodile skins has made some positive impact on the viability of the crocodile business, says th ...moreAlan D. Jackson: Customers still have stockDurban, KZN, SA - Morgan Naidoo, member of leather indent agent Alan D. Jackson, which has principals in Brazil, India and Pakistan, said most of his customers still had stocks of leather. He said the global drop in hide prices had seen the prices for Brazilian leather drop from US$2.45-2.50/ft² to $2.10, "which is a significant ...moreRestarting retail - 18/5/2020Baxter's: A good start, now back to 'normal'Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, SA – The first week was very busy, from Monday to Friday. Now it has slowed down to more-or-less what it was in March. Observing the regulations has been straightforward because I don't get lots of people coming to the store at the same ti ...moreA+A: No price increases for 2021 editionDüsseldorf, Germany - The organisers of the biennial A+A safety, security and health at work fair have announced that the rates and hall planning for the 2021 edition will remain the same as the 2019 edition. "In order to provide our exhibitors with the best possible support during this period, A+A 2021 will not increase the pri ...moreRestarting retail - 11/5/2020A.P. Jones: A slow trickle, and glad of itFish Hoek, W Cape, SA – It has been a slow trickle since last Saturday. We are extremely fortunate in that we do have a slow trickle. There are so many businesses out there who have not been able to open and we feel for them. I think that it is all going to be about expectation (or the lack