Leather

A major internal reorganisation, aligned with a growth strategy and a substantial infrastructure investment programme, has reshaped Fierecongressi's operational model. The restructuring establishes a dedicated Internationalisation Area, merges two business units into a single Fairs Business Unit, and introduces a product-oriented structure to strengthen the company's competitive position in the global exhibition and congress market.

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to operational use across footwear and leather goods, with adoption among OECD companies tripling between 2020 and 2025. The tenth Innovation Village Retail at Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags in June 2026 brings together nearly 90 start-ups spanning 3D modelling, fit technology, mass customisation, digital product passports and returns reduction.

Chennai's IILF 2026 exposed contradictions shaping India's leather industry: innovative chemical systems alongside organisational failures, Trump tariffs suppressing demand yet prices holding firm, and sustainability frameworks that never reach tannery workers. The 'Leather Carnival' demonstrated both the sector's professionalisation and its struggle to reconcile traditional identity with market realities.

Kolkata’s hosting of AILPA 2025 represented more than an industry event—it symbolised India’s recalibration within shifting global trade currents. Amid market disruptions and evolving tariff landscapes, the city emerged as a key platform connecting manufacturers and international buyers, highlighting the sector’s growing capability, design sophistication, and readiness for the premium export market.

Leather doesn’t need reinvention. It needs representation. At the 106^th edition of Lineapelle Milan 2025 (23–25 September), the message was clear: storytelling is key to leather’s revival as a sustainable, organic material and reimagine its future in a conscious world.

The new report Now or Never from Collective Fashion Justice claims to present fashion’s first methane footprint. Promoting a phase-out of animal-derived materials, it casts the industry as a major climate offender. Yet scrutiny suggests its arguments rely on ideology rather than robust analysis, raising concerns about credibility, methodology, and overlooked mitigation pathways.

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on Thursday, removes steep tariffs on Indian exports of textiles, apparel, leather and footwear. With duty-free access to 99% of Indian goods, the deal unlocks significant growth for manufacturers across sectors. Exporters expect major gains in UK market share, driven by price competitiveness and improved supply chain efficiency.

Coach luxury handbags have been linked to illegal Amazon deforestation through Brazilian leather supply chains connected to cattle ranching on stolen indigenous land, new investigation reveals. European fashion brands risk complicity in environmental crimes whilst marketing sustainable products to consumers seeking ethical luxury goods.

Working at the intersections of farming, leather and fashion, Alice Robinson and Sara Grady founded British Pasture Leather (BPL) to reshape entrenched perceptions of leather and forge the disconnection of this natural material from its source: farms, land and animals. The co-founder duo share how they embarked on their remarkable journey from field to fork and fashion.

In a major step toward a more responsible and environmentally conscious leather industry, a strategic collaboration between Oeko-Tex Association and Danish traceability pioneer Spoor will now offer brands the ability to provide consumers with verifiable insights into their leather products' origins and production processes.