History of SWAKOPMUND TANNERY (Pty) Ltd 1938 – 2005
In November 1937, the 25-year-old Ewald Schier reached the port of Swakopmund, then South West Africa, on the steamer UBENA. A few months later, on March 18, 1938 the company SWAKOPUND TANNERY (Pty) Ltd was founded, which recognized the potential of a leather manufacturing company for what was then South West Africa. When Ewald Schier passed awa
y in 1980, his son Herbert took over the business in his spirit and continued to run it successfully as the producer of the original “Swakop Vellie”. A unique veldskoen made from kudu leather, popular as it offers both comfort and durability. In 2002, Herbert and his siblings decided to sell the property on which their parents’ tannery and shoe factory stood. After 64 years the SWAKOPMUND TANNERY, which included a tannery, shoe factory and a sales room covering a total area of 3500 square meters, was closed. Not wanting to give up production of the Swakop Vellie, the Schiers decided to continue the legacy. Together with his wife Irene Schier, Herbert founded the new company AFRICAN LEATHER CREATIONS cc in 2004. Here the legacy of the Swakop Vellie still lives on to this day. The shoe factory, with a factory shop, is now located in the Swakopmund industrial area. The leather used for the production of the shoes stems from a local tannery – and the recipe used for the tanned leather still is the Schier family’s traditional recipe. In September 2022, AFRICAN LEATHER CREATIONS cc changed ownership. After being in the leather business for 52 years Herbert Schier went on retirement. Now Lee Coetzee is continuing the Schier family legacy and promises to continue making the famous Swakop Vellie for many, many years to come.
