Newsletter No 33 / 5 September 2025
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Top mohair farmers honoured at 2025 Miyuki Awards
By Octavia Avesca Spandiel
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From left: Marco Coetzee, general manager of Mohair South Africa (MSA); Jordi van Hasselt of Van Hasselt Farming, winner of the 2025 Miyuki Keori Grand Champion Trophy; and Chris Hobson, chairperson of MSA, celebrate the best clips of the year.
Photo: Octavia Avesca Spandiel
South Africa’s top mohair farmers were celebrated at the 2025 Miyuki Awards, hosted by Mohair South Africa (MSA) in partnership with Japanese high-quality textile maker Miyuki Keori, in August at Remo’s Italian Restaurant in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
The event recognised the farmers behind the country’s best mohair clips of the year, selected through a rigorous judging process based on quality, consistency, and craftsmanship.
The prestigious Grand Champion Trophy went to Van Hasselt Farming. Accepting the award, Jordi van Hasselt said the recognition reflected the dedication and effort of his entire team.
“Thank you very much for this award. We take an enormous amount of pride in what we do. There’s a huge amount of work that goes into it. The teams on the farm work really hard, and without them, this wouldn’t be possible.
“Thank you to Mohair South Africa and Miyuki for having awards like this. We really appreciate it. We value this,” Van Hasselt said.
Chris Hobson, chairperson of MSA, commended farmers for their consistent quality and commitment to excellence.
“Dedication, skill, and care lie at the heart of the successful clips we honoured tonight. We thank the judges of this year’s competition for their expertise. Their discerning eye for quality has been invaluable in upholding the high standards we celebrate this evening,” he said.
According to Hobson, the kid, young, and adult mohair clips were judged based on several factors: staple style and character, coefficient of variation in length and micron, freedom from seed and stain, absence of kemp, overall appearance and handling, and clip preparation.
Anthony Kirsten, chairperson of the Mohair Trust, spoke about the long-standing partnership between Miyuki Keori and South African mohair farmers.
“It’s a prestigious competition, not because of the size of the prize, but because it commands the respect of growers. That’s something deeply embedded in Japanese culture; it’s not just about glamour or money but about what your peers think of your work,” he said.
Kirsten also delivered a message from Yoshi Watanabe, managing director of Miyuki Keori:
“Miyuki started in 1905 with the goal of becoming a high-quality textile maker. In 2025, our company celebrates its 120th anniversary with a reputation for excellence. As we look to the future, we aim to evolve as a sustainable enterprise, promoting responsible production and procurement, and fostering the relationship between producers and consumers. For Japanese consumers, the name Miyuki is firmly linked to mohair fabrics and fibre,” Watanabe said.
The other farmers honoured on the night were:
According to Marco Coetzee, general manager of MSA, the awards evening was a proud moment for the mohair industry, as it highlighted the passion and precision of the farmers who helped sustain one of South Africa’s most prized agricultural exports. Farmers Weekly
South African Fashion Week Announces Strategic Pause to Recalibrate the Future of Fashion
Johannesburg, 4th September 2025
After 28 years of shaping the South African Designer fashion industry, South African Fashion Week (SAFW) has announced a strategic pause to recalibrate and reshape the future.
With global shifts in supply chains, the rise of fast fashion, and the growing urgency of sustainability, the traditional model of fashion week needs change. This pause is a recalibration, a thoughtful re-evaluation and realignment. It marks the start of shaping the next phase of marketing the Creative Designer Fashion Industry.
“I believe it is vital that we take a season to listen, think, and reflect together as a designer community and the industry at large, so that we can shape the best new direction and secure a thriving future for our industry,” says director Lucilla Booyzen.
Over the past three decades, SA Fashion Week has been a leading platform for unearthing, supporting, and marketing South African designers both locally and internationally. Now, with exciting opportunities ahead, this pause allows for the integration of research, knowledge, and insights gained over nearly 30 years into a new, future-ready model.
The vision is to create something dynamic, suited to the South African market and the Global South, while remaining connected to the Global North. SAFW will collaborate with designers, industry stakeholders, retailers, buyers, sponsors, and the wider creative community to ensure the next chapter reflects the needs of the entire fashion value chain.
During this pause, SAFW will continue sharing our designers’ stories, showcasing their new collections, and celebrating their creative evolution across all digital platforms, while guiding the consumer directly to where their collections can be found and purchased.
As the industry stands at a crossroads, this recalibration is about more than a pause – it is about ensuring that South African fashion continues to thrive, innovate, and lead in a rapidly changing, landscape.
Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani dead at 91
Italian designer Giorgio Armani acknowledges the applause at the end of his presentation for Armani Prive during the Women’s Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2025 Fashion Week to mark its 20th anniversary, in Paris on 28 January 2025. Picture: AFP
The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani, and opened luxury hotels.
ROME – Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, king of a high-end lifestyle empire, has died at the age of 91 “surrounded by his loved ones”, his company said Thursday.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” it said in a statement.
The best known contemporary designer, Armani opened his fashion house in Milan in 1975, quickly rising to the top of the industry and going on to dress the stars.
His funeral will be private, the group said, but well-wishers can pay respects beforehand at a funeral chamber open on Saturday and Sunday in Milan.
“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the company said.
“Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects,” the company said.
Armani had cancelled his menswear show in Milan this year due to healthreasons. He also missed the Paris Armani Prive show on doctors’ orders.
“In 20 years of Armani Prive, it’s the first time I’m not in Paris,” he said in a statement sent to AFP in July.
“My doctors advised more rest, even though I felt ready.”
He added that he had “followed and overseen every aspect of the show remotely”, stressing: “I approved and signed off on everything you will see.”
The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani, and opened luxury hotels.
His death came just weeks ahead of celebrations marking 50 years of his eponymous label.
Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli led the tributes, paying homage to “a leading figure in Italian culture, who was able to transform elegance into a universal language”.
“His understated and innovative style redefined the relationship between fashion, cinema, and society, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary culture,”he said.
“He was not only a master of fashion, but also a recognised ambassador of Italian identity around the world.” EWN
Pepkor go-ahead for Retailability chains
The Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved the proposed merger in which Pepkor Trading (Pty) Ltd will acquire the retail brands and businesses of Retailability (Pty) Ltd i.e. Legit, Style, Swagga (including the Beaver Canoe brand) and Boardmans. Once the merger is implemented, Pepkor Trading will assume control of the target businesses.
The Tribunal’s approval is subject to conditions relating to employment, procurement and supplier arrangements.
Pepkor Trading is controlled by Pepkor Holdings Ltd, which controls several firms both within and outside South Africa. Its activities in the retail of clothing, homeware, beauty and cellular products are relevant to this transaction.
The target businesses operate in South Africa as follows: Legit sells ladies’ fashion/apparel and various beauty products; Swagga sells apparel for men and boys; Style sells men’s and women’s contemporary and formal fashion wear, as well as kids’ clothing and cellular products; and Boardmans sells small appliances, bedding, towels, crockery, cutlery, outdoor cooking, bathroom accessories, dining and serve ware and other homeware products.
Retailability is left with 2 chains – Edgars, which it bought from Edcon in 2020, and Keedo, which it bought from the Cape Union Mart group in 2023.
Truworths final result 29 June 2025
Group revenue nudged up to R23.1 billion (R22.4 billion), while profit before finance costs and tax declined to R4.3 billion (R5.6 billion). Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the company dipped to R2.8 billion (R3.9 billion). Furthermore, headline earnings per share came in at 752.1 cents per share (817.9 cents per share).
Dividend declaration
The directors of the company have resolved to declare a final gross cash dividend from retained earnings in respect of the 52-week period ended 29 June 2025 in the amount of 170 South African cents.
Woolworths final results 29 June 2025
Revenue for the period rose to R80.2 billion (R77.3 billion) with gross profit coming in lower at R27.3 billion (R27.5 billion). Operating profit before net finance costs decreased to R4.4 billion (R5.0 billion) with profit attributable to shareholders of the parent declining to R2.4 billion (R2.6 billion). Additionally, headline earnings per share were less at 268.1c per share (364.2c per share).
Dividend declaration
Notice was given that the Board of Directors of WHL (“Board”) has declared a final gross cash dividend per ordinary share (“dividend”) of 81.0 cents (64.8 cents net of dividend withholding tax) for the 52 weeks ended 29 June 2025, being a 31.1% decrease on the prior period’s final dividend of 117.5 cents, based on a payout ratio of 70% of earnings. This brings the total dividend for the period to 188.0 cents, representing a 29.2% decrease on the prior period’s total dividend of 265.5 cents.
Changes to the board and committees
Shareholders and Senior Unsecured Floating Rate Noteholders were hereby advised that Pinky Moholi, the WHL Lead Independent Director and a member of the Nominations; Remuneration and Talent Management; Risk, Information and Technology; Social and Ethics; and Sustainability Committees, will be retiring from the Board, with effect from the conclusion of the upcoming 2025 Annual General Meeting, having served on the Board for eleven years.
Company outlook
Notwithstanding easing inflation and recent interest rate cuts, business and consumer confidence across both geographies remains subdued, with discretionary spend likely to remain constrained for the foreseeable future. Global uncertainty regarding the potential impact of higher US tariffs presents a further headwind to the macro-economic outlook.
That said, the Group is well oriented to benefit from its various investments in both foundational capabilities, and new avenues of growth. We remain confident in our clear strategies, and expect the current financial year to deliver an improvement in the Group’s overall financial performance, as we reap the benefits of our strengthened brands, our distinct competitive advantages, and the investments we have made to support both current and future growth.
Obscure text additions sometimes added to clothing labels. Apparently, there can be secret messages too!
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