OSTRICH FEATHERS ARE RETURNING TO FASHION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22869, 12 February 1949, Page 7

OSTRICH FEATHERS ARE RETURNING TO FASHION

(From a Reuter Correspondent) mi _ JOHANNESBURG. The ungainly ostrich, once the key to a £2,000,000 industry in South Africa and later considered better value dead than alive, is coming into its own again as world interest in the ostrich feather market increases. The last ostrich feather sale of the season ended in December at Oudtshoorn, the main centre of the industry, where £183,000 was realised at feather sales during the year. In addition, many out-of-hand sales were made by farmers to speculators, indicating, since the bulk of these sales were for export, a revival in the industry. Industry’s Prospects Good

Prospects in the industry are good. The past season has shown that overseas firms are taking a keen interest in ostrich feathers. Local buyers have also shown confidence in the purchases made.

A significant commentary on the fickleness of fashion is provided by the story of fortunes made, lost and partially recovered in the industry. Ostrich feathers were first exported from the union in 1870, and 40 years later there was an unprecedented demand for feathers when more than £2,000,000 worth was exported. The industry continued to expand, and in 1913 the maximum export figure of £2,953,587 was reached.

Unsuitability For Motoring

The First World War ended a period of prosperity. Changes in fashion and the unsuitability of feathers for the motoring of those days caused one of the greatest slumps known in the union. As the years passed, experiments in the tanning of skins proved successful and ostriches began to be regarded as of more value dead than alive. Just before the Second World War skins fetched a very good price In the United States, where the curiously marked leather was found to be well adapted for footwear, dressing cases, furniture coverings and other uses.

The tide appears to be turning again. As better prices are realised for feathers, farmers are paying attention to possible further breeding. Official figures of the ostrich population are not available for recent months, but it is estimated that about 40,000 birds are to be found in the Oudtshoorn area. The total for the Union is unlikely to be considerably higher, which means the ostrich population has not increased during the past 10 or 11 years.