In a bid to support the local leather industry, Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged to ban imported shoes within the next two years.
He said his countrymen were buying shoes from abroad at exorbitant prices while cowhide from Kenya was “being given to dogs”.
Mr Ruto said the country will use its own leather to make shoes, increasing the earnings of farmers who are forced to discard cowhides.
The Government has allocated nearly Sh2 billion ($14million) to support the industry – this will aid tanneries with the aim to improve the local supply chain.
“Within the next two years, I will ban shoes imported from abroad. We will be making shoes with leather from our cows,” he said.
We at RLSD work hard to support African leather production, this year we launched our African Leather Design Showcases. We feel that rather than imposing import bans, global promotion of best practice is the best way forward.
We can’t just do what we want anymore. Everything from recycling to food production, land and water use has to be carefully managed in order to reduce our carbon footprint and create a better future for our planet.
One of the things we love about leather is that it is so durable that it can last for forever. So, why throw away an old pair of sandals when you can make them look as good as new?
Selected by the judging panel, chosen from nearly 400 entries from countries spanning from Argentina to Vietnam.
Corsetiere Sian Hoffman found a leather niche through her love of fetish that has had the worlds most affluent stylists and magazines feature her products. Loved by a loyal list of Dominatrix and Erotica boutiques...
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