SGS Provides Footwear and Leather Goods Solutions in South East Asia’s Sourcing Areas

HONG KONG - April 1, 2015 - PRLog -- Footwear and Leather Sourcing in Asia

Sourcing of footwear and leather goods from South East Asia is on the rise. Recent statistics show that exports of footwear and leather goods from this region will grow at an annual rate of approximately 6% until 2020. Vietnam, the world’s second largest exporter of footwear and leather goods, currently exports more than USD 10 billion worth of goods. Indonesia was the sixth largest exporter of these items in 2014 with an export value of over USD 500 million.

SGS ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratories in South East Asia

SGS offers footwear and leather goods (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and-Accessories/Footwear-and-Leather-Products.aspx) testing services in the heart of the South East Asia’s sourcing areas. The company’s ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, strategically located in Ho Chi Minh City (since 2005) and Jakarta (http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/News-and-Media-Center/News-and-Press-Releases/2015/01/SGS-Opens-New-Footwear-Testing-Laboratory-in-Indonesia.aspx) (since 2011), provide the full range of physical and chemical testing services, audits, inspections and technical consultancy to the industry, with the convenience of being on the doorstep of the South East Asian footwear and leather goods manufacturers. This local presence, combined with SGS’s global platform ensures South East Asia’s footwear and leather industry easy access to global support and expertise. SGS is continually investing in this region to ensure its services respond to the industry’s current and future sourcing patterns.

Extensive Leather and Footwear Testing Services

To ensure the quality and safety of shoes, SGS’s new testing laboratory can help shoe and footwear manufacturers to test for the broadest range of parameters:

- Raw material testing for uppers, sock linings, outsoles and metal components

- Whole shoe tests for sport shoes, dress shoes, sandals, infant and children’s shoes

- Regulatory testing (e.g. REACH (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and...), SVHC (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and...), CPSIA (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and-Accessories/Footwear-and-Leather-Products/CPSIA.aspx) and many more)

- Frequently requested troubleshooting and technical consultancy service (e.g. chromium VI (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and-Accessories/Footwear-and-Leather-Products/Chromium-VI-Solutions.aspx), mold prevention (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Softlines-and-Accessories/Footwear-and-Leather-Products/Mold-Prevention.aspx), Volatile Organic Compounds etc.)

- A range of inspection and audit services (e.g. product inspection, social compliance audit etc.)

The need for full and effective shoe and footwear solutions is being driven by increasing consumer awareness about product safety, demands of higher quality and increased regulation in key markets. Many countries, including the EU and USA, have reported the need to recall footwear as a result of a product’s failure to comply with chemical and physical quality requirements.

Partner With SGS Softlines

The footwear and leather industry faces challenges including product safety, quality, functionality, as well as environmentally and socially sustainable production. SGS’s unrivalled experience and expertise in this sector and in consumer goods testing makes it the ideal partner to help brands, retailers, sourcing companies and manufacturers to comply with regulatory standards, protecting the brand and the consumer.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

Kris Wan
Senior Manager, Global Softlines Development Office
SGS Hong Kong

t: +852 2765 3695
Email: global.sl@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.