MEDIA RELEASE: INNOVATION PLAYS A BIG PART IN BCM PROTECTIVE LEATHER WEAR OUTFIT PROGLOVE'S SUCCESS.

May 11, 2025 

A good example of this is our gloves," says businesses owner, Tsepo Daniels. "A customer once asked us if we could sell his company righthand gloves only. "This was because most people are righthanded, so the right gloves take more punishment than the left. "Today, our "rightglove only" option is still a big seller, ensuring that gloves are 70% of our range." 

Proglove was established in 1984 and is situated in Qonce, previously King William's Town. The company manufactures a huge range of leather protective wear and if items are not in the range it will customise products to customer's needs, said the businesses owner, Tsepo Daniels. 

Leather is Proglove's main material, and its suppliers are local farmers of sheep, goats and cattle. Daniels, originally from Nelson Mandela Bay, was in real estate when he came across an advert to sell the Proglove building. "I wanted the building, but not the company. After a year I decided to settle on both. 

"Today we pride ourselves in being the only South African Bureau of Standards approved manufacturer of leather protective items in SA. "We provide a product development service according to customer specification, both for efficiency and durability but also designs that might lift items into fashion ranges." However, while fashion and design sells, Proglove's main product ranges are driven by safety for the end user. "This is achieved through a high standard manufacturing process, with a focus on the wellbeing of our manufacturing staff," Daniels said. "It has been a feature of our processes and experience gained by staff over the last 38 years in the leather manufacturing business, and it's a feature I cherish." 

At one time Proglove employed over 100 people but this had dropped to 40. "The reduction is totally due to the flood of Asian imports into our country. "They slash all our prices and, while our loyal customers have supported us for years, there comes a time when the lure of discounts overtakes loyalty. "It's war out there in the marketplace." 

The pain of missed sales is felt by the farming community as well, who supply a range of leather hides for Proglove to turn into quality safety products. These include heat-resistant items such as sturdy leather gloves and mittens, jackets, trousers, aprons, coats, leg guards and sleeves, and specific items that are custom made for customers. 

"One of our early mission statements was to become the leader in the leather manufacturing sector in SA by producing top quality products. "We aim to enhance safety in the workplace, increasing our customers' productivity by reducing lost production time due to inferior protective wear. "As cut-price ranges from overseas are offloaded onto our buyers, that mission statement becomes harder to meet. "But, while staff safety is an on-going concern, so is customer satisfaction, which has been the company's goal since it started. "All products are designed to meet the customer needs and expectations." 

Everyone in Proglove, from press operators to machinists and management, has customer satisfaction as a priority. "Even if they are not in direct contact with the customer and the enduser, ultimately the professional and caring way each person works will have a positive effect." They supply clients from agriculture organisations to mines and factories. "We export to Zimbabwe Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria at the copper belt in Zambia. "The ECDC has assisted us in connecting with potential customers across the borders."