The Brazilian Footwear Association, Abicalçados, has reported large production losses, the closing of factories and a reduction in the work force which is being caused by the revaluation of the Brazilian real. In addition, Abicalçados has accused the government of not taking measures promised during a meeting with President Lula and his ministers last December. Abicalçados President, Elcio Jacometti, warned that if the present situation continues, it is estimated that 85 million pairs of shoes will not be manufactured and more than 25 thousand workers will lose their jobs. In 2005, Brazil produced 725 million pairs, imported 17 million and exported 190 million. Its internal consumption is 552 million pairs/year with an average of 2.98 pairs per capita.

Valencia – comfort and health

“The creation of a brand or a certificate of quality linked to health and comfort is one of the keys to improve the competitiveness of shoe manufacturers, especially in Valencia, the great industrial footwear centre of Spain. Product differentiation is necessary to compete with footwear coming from countries with low labour costs”. These are some of the conclusions of a study carried out by the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia., Spain, in order to analyze the social and health implications of that region.

New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand has announced that the country exported raw hides and leather with a value of US$264 million in the twelve months up to the end of January. This amount indicates a 15.4% reduction compared to the previous year.

Vietnam concerned for the EU

A spokesman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Commerce declared that the decision taken by the European Union regarding antidumping duties on footwear exports from that Asian country will accelerate a crisis in the local leather footwear sector. The spokesman also said that Vietnam had never dumped leather footwear on to the EU market. The Ministry of Commerce also informed that Vietnam exported leather footwear worth US$582 million in the first two months of 2006, which means that exports rose by 31% compared to the same period last year. Leather footwear constituted around 11% of total exports for the period in question.

Argentine leather goods at APLF

For the fourth consecutive year a pavilion of Argentinean leather goods manufacturers will be present at APLF. The push to export quality leather products manufactured in Argentina has already superseded US$100 a year and will continue to grow. The Argentine Leather Goods Chamber (CIMA) will participate in Fashion Access in Hong Kong from 28^th – 30^th March 2006 with the aim of continuing to expand as an international supplier and manufacturer with its medium to high range products.

Iran-Tanzania

Officials from Iran and Tanzania have held a series of meetings to deal with the topic of cooperation in the cattle breeding sector. Abbas Vaezi, Iranian ambassador in Tanzania said that his country is prepared to share its experience in this sector. The officials from the African country, on the other hand, said that Iranian investments would be welcome in their country.

Sweden prefers imports

Swedish importers and retailers have expressed their disagreement with the EU proposal applying antidumping duties on Chinese leather footwear. They consider that consumers will choose synthetic leather or footwear made from other materials instead of genuine leather footwear if these measures are imposed.  

India – looking for production scales

The Indian Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Armes, has said that the country’s leather industry should concentrate on volume rather than on the value of the products. He said that countries such as China and Vietnam focus on the quantity of exports whilst India concentrates on value. He added that 50% of footwear demand is from women and the majority of local companies produce for men. In this sense there are companies with the idea that in the face of stiff competition, the only solution is to strengthen design and fashion in their products.

Peru increases footwear exports

Between January and November 2005 Peruvian shoe exports reached 9 million pairs, 85% more than in 2004, according to the Lima office of export promotion, Prompex. This official body indicated that the main destination for Peruvian manufactured footwear is Ecuador (20%), followed by the US (18%), Chile (17%) and Mexico (12%).

    

Spaniards in Eastern Europe

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce from Alicante, with assistance from the IVEX state export office, the Spanish Footwear Federation has organized a trade mission and fair for footwear and leather goods which will be held in Budapest, Hungary and in Prague in the Czech Republic from 7^th – 13^th May 2006.

Azaléia to manufacture in China

Alter the recent closure of a factory in Rio Grande do Sul a few months ago firing 800 workers, the women’s footwear manufacturer Azaléia is going to outsource part of the production of its new collection in China. The company stated that around 30 models will be introduced into this Asian country and that “to transfer production to China is the only way of countering cost increases caused by the fall of the dollar in Brazil”.

Adidas beats Nike

Lionel Messi is an 18 year old Argentinean football star playing in Spain. Lionel has produced a fight between Niké and Adidas about who should clog and clothe him. According to the German company, the Spanish courts, since the case went to litigation, have decided that Lionel is now authorized to wear Adidas products, and thus the contract he signed until 2012 will now become effective. Messi has already used a model created especially for him -  the +F50 Tunit. This model is able to change not only the studs but also the upper and the structure so as to be adapted to the foot and to the playing conditions on the pitch.

Improvements at LVMH

The luxury goods manufacturer LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton stated that strong leather goods sales contributed to a 21% improvement registered in net profit for 2005, which reached €1,440 million. “LVMH has reconfirmed that the solidness of its business is based on creativity and quality,” stated company president Bernard Arnault.

Paquetá invests US$10 million in Argentina

The Brazilian Paquetá Company from Novo Hamburgo has set up a shoe production plant in Argentina. The company will invest US$10 million in the first year so as to be able to manufacture 40 thousand pairs of sports shoes a month with brands such as Adidas and Diadora, from October of this year onwards. A 20,000 square meter factory will be constructed which will create 2,000 jobs. Paquetá is licensed by the Italian Diadora company  and in Brazil is also the owner of the Dumont brand, provides clothing for Adidas and has its own company which targets the women’s market. Paquetá employs 10 thousand people and has 12 production plants throughout Brazil.

New product from BASF

BASF presents a new product, Lugafast Black AN, a reactive leather dye which offers innovative qualities such as rapid migration effects, resistance to perspiration and is easy to wash. The product can be used both in special tanning processes as well as in chrome tanning.

Artecola to produce Rhenoflex 5000

Brazil’s Artecola Group has announced the launch of its new heel technology. According to the company, the Rhenoflex 5000 line will increase comfort by allowing the production of laminates of varying thickness without losing its fundamental characteristics by maintaining format and definition of the lines. The new product was developed in Brazil between Artecola and Rhenoflex, a German company and international leader in laminates for the shoe industry.

    

Stahl has bought Pielcolor of Uruguay

Using its subsidiary company Pielcolor SLU, Stahl Holdings BV has acquired total control of Pielcolor Uruguay SA, in an operation carried out on October 31^st 2005. The agreement includes two subsidiary companies, Colorcuer SA of Argentina and Pielcolor Chile SA. According to the company these takeovers will strengthen the position of Pielcolor in the important finished leather market in South America. Pielcolor Uruguay will continue operating from its current base in Montevideo and will maintain the same management team.

Changes at Schnadig Corp. Jeff Katz has joined Schnadig Corp., a company dedicated to upholstery production. The post of Vice President of Corporative Sales which he now holds was created especially for him.

Executive at Simon Li. Robert Petril Jr. has been incorporated as Sales Director in the upholstery division of Simon Li Furniture.

Buyers in Las Vegas. Upholstery manufacturers which exhibited at the Rio Convention Center in Las Vegas, confirmed that the fair was very active and that the number of visitors matched their expectations.

Promotions at Alan White. Alan White, a specialist upholstery manufacturer, has decided to promote two members of its management team.

New concept in interiors. Mazda presented Kabura, a new concept in automobiles at the North American Auto Show.  The designers sought to introduce a certain level of “sustainability” and recyclable materials into the vehicle and they managed this thanks to the cooperation of Sustainable Solutions Inc, a company that uses recycled industrial materials to create auto interiors from regenerated leather.

New brands in Russia

The sporting good group, Private has presented four new  brands of footwear for the 2006 winter season - they are: U Roads, Spalding, Wolverine and Trezeta. Private was founded in 1996 in Moscow and currently has consolidated its position between wholesalers and retailers in the athletic shoe sector in Russia and the Community or Independent States. It has established shops in each region.

Ski Boots

Spine a company specializing in the ski market, has presented a new collection of ski boots called “Spine Polaris Skate. The company is certain that the technology used will revolutionize the ski boots market. The new product was developed between Spine and Rottefella and both companies maintain that this will offer a new level of stability combined with low weight by using the most advanced materials available.

Daniel Hechter in the World Cup

Daniel Hechter will supply clothing for the Organizing Committee of the 2006 World Soccer Cup due to be held in Germany. “Millions of people from all over the world are fascinated by football. It will be an interesting challenge to be responsible for the clothing of the men and women in charge of the critical operation of managing the World Cup,” stated Stefan Aulbach, the brand’s general manager.

Adidias on the tennis court

The well-known Russian tennis star Maria Kirilrnko, number 25 in the WTA Rankings, will present a new collection of clothing and tennis footwear for Adidas. She will use this line for all the games and tournaments on the circuit. “It is very important for me to use products that combine style and performance. The new Adidas collection has given me everything I have wished for as a tennis player”, Kirilenko said. Was she speaking about comfort or money?

Great interest for le Cuir à Paris

For the 10^th edition of Le Cuir à Paris almost 10,000 visitors arrived during the four days of the show and 79% came from overseas. There were 162 exhibitors specializing in the all sectors of the industry, in leather, skins, textiles, components chemicals and high quality services. There were an important number of leather buyers from the footwear sector mainly from France, USA and Asia. Le Cuir à Paris is organized by the SIC Group which represents the French National Leather Council. In a survey carried out, companies reported excellent results and many decided to return for the September edition. This was the second time that Le Cuir à Paris has been held concurrently with Première Vision Pluriel – a group of international mega fairs aimed at textile and fashion professionals and held in the Parque de Expositions at Paris Nord Villepinte.

Changes at Tanning Tech

Tanning Tech was postponed for six months and will be held jointly with SIMAC from 11th – 14th April 2007. ASSOMAC Servizi announced that within the framework of a new and more modern fair strategy, the organization had decided to place all technological sectors for leather under the same roof. SIMAC, on the other hand, will take place as expected from 19^th – 22^nd April 2006 exhibiting machinery for footwear production.

APLF – a huge get together

The Asia Pacific Leather Fair 2006 will take place in Hong Kong from 28^th – 31^st March with more than 1800 exhibitors from 60 countries and regions, including 30 national pavilions from 20 different countries. At the same time, many special events will be held generating great interest.

According to the organizers, “APLF has always been more than just an exhibition and deserves its title as the “Annual Meeting Place for the Global Leather Industry”. APLF holds fashion shows, presents its Focus Country and includes a wide programme of events to inform visitors of new developments, as well as needs and problems in the industry. This year’s edition has been complemented by a much broader programme when compared to previous years. Four important, interactive events will be held – two forums, one seminar and a conference.

The fair will practically cover every aspect of the international leather and footwear industries, backed up by a vast selection of raw materials, components and machinery. During the event topics of interest will be presented for designers, buyers, technicians, production engineers, sales and marketing personnel.

Leather Footwear Conference

(March 27th 2006 – one day before the fair commences). This conference is organized by Leather International and the BLC Technology Centre, and sponsored by APLF and Lanxess.

Forum on Cooperation in the Footwear Industry

(March 29^th 2006 – second day of the APLF event). This forum is intended to promote greater understanding of how many factors and interests in the global market place for footwear can work effectively together for the benefit of all concerned.

Forum topics include:

• Buying trends in the main European and American markets

• Potential development and growth in consumer markets, with emphasis on Asia.

• Update on the commercial restrictions and antidumping measures in Europe and the US

• The potential in the Asian market in production technology for leather, footwear, machinery and design materials from the west.

Speakers include Peter Mangione, President of the US Association of Retailers and Distributors of Footwear; Yrjo Gorski, Managing Director of the European Confederation of the Association of Footwear Retailers and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Modin; and Chen Mien-wu, President of the Taiwan Hjongda Footwear Company.

Seminar Programme

There will be three presentations on technical subjects concerning shoe manufacture, including impact absorbent materials, creative finishing techniques and western quality standards. In addition, fashion trends for spring-summer 2007 will also be on show.

Forum on Manufacturing Technology Enhancement

This event offers an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to discover latest products and developments. Themes under consideration are:

• Certification and Testing, presented by Bureau Veritas, CTC Asia, HK Standard & Testing  and the SATRA Technology Centre.

• Solutions in managing supply chain logistics, presented by Frank Vago.

• CAD-CAM Solutions, presented by Amethyst Handbag, Gerber Technology and Lectra.

Materials Trend Forum

As well as this comprehensive programme of special events, APLF will present its Trend Forum which allows visitors to see first hand, colour trends for the spring-summer season 2007. Five main themes will form the basis of this forum. Scientific Dreams; Simplicity and Elegance;  Natural Source;  Poetic Nostalgia and Colour Therapy. This special showcase will be presented in conjunction with the French Colour Committee and Pantone Asia Inc.

India as Focus Country

As Focus Country 2006, India will offer fashion parades and will direct visitors’ attention to its leather products. It is worth mentioning that the number of exhibitors from India has doubled for this year’s fair, compared to 2005.