The rallying cry for European leather - Lineapelle

Europe’s largest international leather fair is a reliable bellwether of optimism in the industry. The latest edition, for autumn/winter 2017–18, hosted 1,241 exhibitors, which was a 6% increase on the turnout for the previous year’s event.

Of the 1,241 companies on display, 763 were from Italy, with the remainder hailing from 43 other countries and covering everything from footwear, clothing and leather goods, to automotive, furniture and design and luxury.

Visitor numbers were also up, with 21,184 attendees from 110 nations making this edition 9% busier than the 2015 show.

A new organisational approach designed to meet the needs of the entire value chain enabled Lineapelle to introduce a series of logistical innovations. Beginning with a more exciting and accessible take on its fashion-centric core in the form of trend areas located in the various pavilions.

These featured a wealth of style proposals for the 2017–18 autumn/winter collections developed by various exhibitors and inspired by the underlying theme of the season: the ‘new sensorium’.

The need for market clarity

Lineapelle took place within a complex landscape in which market dynamics had been hampered by economic downturns and geopolitical events. “The first half of the year has shown a fairly weak global economy,” commented Gianni Russo, president of the Italian Tanners’ Association (UNIC) and of the Conceria Russo in Casandrino. “The last of the summer orders suggest that trends will remain low for the rest of the year, particularly in fashion accessories. It is our hope that greater momentum will come from the first orders for the upcoming fall/winter season.”

On the whole, the tanning industry remains relatively weak, although performance by segment varies. Bovine hides (with the exception of calf), and sheep and goat skins are experiencing the greatest difficulty, whereas the first half of 2016 was a positive period for accessories, components, textiles, and other alternative materials. The overall trend in fashion accessories was encouraging in Europe.

Clothing saw widespread decline, as furniture upholstery held its ground and automotive upholstery remained strong.  ?

The view from ‘Leather is my Job’

COTANCE and industriAll – European Trade Union organised the second meeting of the ‘Leather is my Job’ follow-up project in Milan the day before Lineapelle.

Representatives from partner associations APIC (employers, Portugal); BDSZ (trade union, Hungary); FEMCA/CISL (trade union, Italy); VDL (employers, Germany); UKLF (employers, UK); as well as UNIC (employers, Italy) came together to review this year’s activities and discuss ideas for the future. FFTM (employers, France), SG (employers, Sweden), APPBR (employers, Romania) and BUof LFFHI (employers, Bulgaria), meanwhile, sent in written contributions.

Partners reviewed the first project activities, and in particular the Leather is my Job ceremony organised in Germany. VDL reported on a new professional qualification for leather technicians, as well as a diploma ceremony and special awards that were co-financed by the project and handed over during June’s Freiberg Leather Days.

Project partners also welcomed UNIC’s interest to join the initiative and to add to the project activities that were organised by the Italian Tanning Industry to promote the tanning industry as a sector that offered good employment opportunities.

Future activities indicated by project partners included further testimonials; a number of open doors in tanneries in Portugal, UK, Hungary, Germany and France; educational activities at schools in France, UK and other countries; participation in job fairs; and the involvement of employment centres in a number of partner countries.

COTANCE also announced preliminary arrangements for a final conference for the project in Igualada, Spain, in June 2017, at which all project activities will be presented and participants and guests will be able to witness developments in the Catalan leather cluster.