Women in leather sector urged to break barriers to export

WOMEN in the leather sector must fight for their space and thrive for quality distinction in order to make a mark in a competitive domestic market, as well as exporting.

While there are numerous challenges that limit the potential of women leather players, such as funding, technology and competition with established male-dominated entities and cheap imports, prominent female leather products player, Mrs Violet Mhute, says women have the ability to turn the tables in the sector and reap more earnings.

The leather sector is among the low-hanging fruits for Zimbabwean entrepreneurs given the country’s comparative advantage in terms of access to hides, which are a key raw material.

Mrs Mhute who is founder and managing director of Farringdon Investments T/A Soko Leathercraft based in Bulawayo, says her journey in the sector has not been easy, but she has fought hard to remain afloat.

Today, Soko Leathercraft is one of the viable small to medium enterprises in the city and is focused on expanding its market footprint at home and abroad.

The company is one of the few women-led enterprises that participated at the 2023 Global Expo Botswana, which ended in Gaborone on Saturday and is now a regular exhibitor at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

Soko Leathercraft produces various leather products such as school and safety shoes, customised products, handbags, belts and jackets, among others.

In a recent interview at their expo stand in Gaborone, Mrs Mhute said as a female player in the leather sector, she was excited by the breakthrough made so far, and encouraged fellow women to be more aggressive in growing their businesses.

“Very few women in the leather sector successfully make it because often they are afraid of breaking the ceiling. The men in the industry are not usually co-operating with us,” she said.

“While we have sales at home, we want to grow the export market as women so as to promote foreign currency earnings for the economy.

“That is why we are here to tap into export opportunities from Botswana and the region and we have been engaging with buyers and potential investors for partnerships.”

Mrs Mhute said as women in leather they were eager to ride on value addition so as to increase the value of their product offer in the market. She noted that in the past Soko Leathercraft was engaged in exports of semi-processed raw hides but later realised that value added goods fetch more value.

“Once we export finished products we will earn more. When we increase our exports we will be able to boost our gross domestic product as a country,” she said.

“This is why we are seeing a lot of opportunity in this and I encourage women in the sector to be aggressive and break the barriers to export. Women must not fear anything but should be bold enough and invest in self-development to beef up their skills and exposure. I tell you the sky is the limit for women in leather.”

A chartered accountant by profession, Mrs Mhute said she was passionate about the leather sector and was eager to see more women making it there.

To advance her work she has undertaken further training in leather design and production and is now one of the mentors to the youths in Bulawayo.

“I believe naturally I am a talented person in doing any handwork. I’ve had exposure to garment making and shoe production from my days as a child in school.

“I’ve successfully done clothing and design of mainly African attires but have tended to have bias on leather production as the clothing sector is almost saturated and there is adverse impact of cheap Chinese products and imports of second-hand clothes,” said Mrs Mhute.

-ebusinessweekly