A new tannery is scheduled to start production in June
A new tannery is scheduled to open in June 2024 in Gobernador Gregores, Argentina, to make sustainable leather from guanaco skins.
Guanaco is a type of camel (like alpaca and llama) that is abundantly distributed in the province of Santa Cruz and throughout Patagonia. Currently, the meat, fur and skin of this animal are being fully utilized.
The tannery is scheduled to open in June.
Héctor Gabriel Varrone, a craftsman at the San Juan Bautista School of Craftsmanship in the province of Catamarca, told reporters: "The tanning process in Guanacopi is the same as that of other types of leather. This process can be used in both guanacopi and sheepskin from Santa Cruz, as it is vegetable tanned, so it is completely organic and environmentally friendly. Just last year, we were working hard to reach a consensus with professionals in this area to obtain organic certification and bring fully organic leather to the world. ”
"One of the problems that exists throughout Argentina is that hides end up in landfills, incinerated or buried, so the objective will be to maximize the use of guanacopi, cowhides and sheepskins," he stressed. ”
Varone reported that there was a lot of interest in the project.
The global giant announced layoffs, halted shoe production lines, and closed factories
The "Fuel Plan" is a plan deployed in January by global denim giant Levi Strauss to improve the giant's efficiency through significant layoffs.
Levi Strauss initially said it would cut its headcount by 15 percent, mainly by cutting middle management positions. In an interview with financial analysts, the group's chief financial officer, Harmit Singh, said that steps had been taken in that direction, cutting Levi Strauss' global headcount by 12%.
In fact, Levi Strauss has announced that it will discontinue the Denizen brand, especially in Asia and other international markets, and has announced two other high-impact policies.
Announced the cessation of the footwear production line
Closure of the Plock plant in Poland
First, Levi Strauss ceased the footwear business, believing it to be too small and irrelevant to its core business. Levi Strauss will be actively involved in this business only through future collaborations.
Second, the group announced that it would close its plant in Plockk, Poland, in order to "optimize the supply chain, make it more flexible, and reduce costs."
The Plock plant has a long history with Levi Strauss.
The factory opened in 1991 and has up to 1,000 employees and an annual output of about 300,000 pieces. According to Polish media reports, the plant, which currently employs 650 people, will stop taking orders in June and close in November.
Mr Singh said the changes were expected to "help unlock the true potential of the Levi's brand on a global scale." These policies will allow us to expect to save about $100 million in costs in 2024 and more in 2025. ”
The group said its gross margin is improving and is starting to benefit from efforts in retail distribution and supply chain, in addition to taking advantage of the restructuring.
"Our results for the quarter are proof that our strategy to promote our brand, direct-to-consumer business and diversify our product portfolio is paying off," said Gas. She highlighted Levi Strauss' strong performance in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, which saw an 8% increase in revenue, a 12% increase in online sales, and a 14% increase in sales of women's apparel products across the entire direct retail network.