Footwear and ethical sourcing move up the agenda for retailers
The UK footwear manufacturing industry is now seen as thriving, with many of the Northamptonshire-based companies reporting increasing sales and exports, according to John Saunders, chairman of the British Footwear Association.
He was speaking at a UK-based leather and footwear conference, Head to Toe, organised by the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI).
ASBCI said its members had requested an event focusing on leather and footwear because an increasing number were looking to add these lines to clothing collections to round out their offering.
The top two concerns of retailers are now increasing speed to market and enhancing social and environmental compliance are now, according to a survey by constancy Kurt Salmon.
These factors could be good news for footwear manufacturers as retailers look to reshore or change to suppliers with better working and environmental standards, it suggests.
Bryan Oknyansky explained how his forays into 3D printing have enabled him to offer consultancy services for other footwear manufacturers looking to use 3D printing for prototyping or manufacture.
Rapid growth has been seen at footwear company Joseph Cheaney & Son, which was taken over by Jonathan Church and cousin William in 2009. Since then, the workforce has expanded by 50% and exports have tripled.
Amanda Michel from consultancy Leatherwise explained to the retailers in the audience the failings of leather alternatives, and how the manufacture of plastic is much worse from an environmental as well as a quality standpoint.
Andrew Hudson, from testing group SGS, told delegates of the importance of testing products. He said 78% of product recalls in 2014 were due to finding chrome VI in the leather. However, the number of recalls in Europe had fallen from 160 cases in 2010 to 70 last year (across all softlines, not just leather products).
World footwear’s publisher Simon Yarwood concluded the day by explaining industry initiatives World Trades Publishing has launched to support the industry, including the Tannery of the Year competition and the myth-busting series of essays and website Nothing to Hide.
Image: Jonathan Church of Cheaneys
