Italian tanners, Gruppo Mastrotto have launched a stock range of leathers to enable customers to order at short notice to adapt to changes in trends and fashion.

The construction of the new leather market began on November 26 in the new commercial district of Xindu in Chengdu city, which is regarded as largest one in southwest of China.

An inspection team consisting of Jinjiang city leaders and officials from the environmental protection bureau have visited the Kemu Tanning Zone. The visit was to monitor the progress of merging 63 tanneries in the area into just four units. The process of integration is in accordance with the municipal government requirements to reduce and control pollution.

The tanning industry has been ranked as the fifth worse polluting industry by the New York based NGO, Blacksmith Institute and the Green Cross. The report titled 'The Worlds Worst Toxic Pollution Problems' claims that chromium pollution from tanning puts an estimated 1.8 million people worldwide at pollution risk.

Natalia Brilli, a Parisian Jewellry maker has told the New York Times that she wants to 'restore leather's pedigree'. The article was published in the well-known American newspaper. Brilli is one of a group of designers that are asking for leather to regain its luxury status rather than be seen as a commodity material.

TFL have released their TFL Colour Trends catalogue for the season spring/summer 2013. In the catalogue, TFL present the colour trends for the leather garment, footwear, accessory and additionally for the upholstery industry.

US leather chemical makers, Whittemore-Wright have developed a new lower cost fatliquor, Morite No.101 Oil.

UNIDO have released results of the EU funded project 'Reduction of Environmental Threats and Increase of Exportability of Bangladeshi Leather Products' (Re-Tie) have been documented and four videos are available on YouTube. The videos can also be watched on a link from this website in our Leather TV section on the homepage.

Fossil shares fell by 5.2% to $82.46 on November 21. Fossil, Inc. designs, develops, markets, and distributes consumer fashion accessories. 

G-III Apparel stocks went down 1.7% to $18.90 on November 22. G-III Apparel has overhead space with shares priced $18.90, or 42.7% below the average consensus analyst price target of $33.00.

Scottish Leather Group, (SLG), have won the ‘Outstanding Performing Business > 25 staff’ Award (sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland) at the 2011 ROCCO Awards, (Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards), on November 11.

BASF have launched a new finishing product – Astacin Finish PS, for achieving outstanding water spot resistance and high print retention for elegant leather. Astacin Finish PS delivers high performance levels.

Stahl India’s display at IILF  (India International Leather Fair) in 2012 (January 31 - February 3) will be largely based on the recently announced Colour Previews linking colour with the time of day.

The trade fair duo GDS - International Event for Shoes & Accessories – and Global Shoes the leading trade show for sourcing – kicks off the coming season with a new look.  

The Leather Chemicals division of BASF India have held a special event for its distributors to commemorate 25 years of successful partnership. The event held in Mumbai was attended by BASF’s leading distributors of leather chemicals.

American leather and textile handbag maker Coach is aiming for China to become its main market in the next three years, expanding stores despite an economic slowdown and the rise of online and second-hand markets for handbags in the country.

APLF will hold their annual spring trade fairs focusing on the leather and fashion industries from March 28-30, 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Bridge of Weir, part of the Scottish Leather Group and Fisker Automotive from California have announced that Fisker’s latest range of electric cars will include Bridge of Weir’s low carbon leather.

The World Leather Congress closed its first edition with a technical visit to the JBS Couros plant of Itumbiara on November 10.

At the ICT Council Meeting on November 6 in Rio de Janeiro ICT (International Council of Tanners) formally accepted an application from Cotance, the European tanners association, for the 15 member associations of Cotance to join ICT as a group. This followed detailed discussions on the revision of the ICT statutes, which were formally amended at the Council meeting in March 2011.

From 2012 automotive manufacturers selling leather interiors sold in the European Union will only be able to claim it as a fully leather interior if it has a minimum of 80% or more leather content.

The first World Leather Congress began today at the Sofitel Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Over 230 delegates are registered to attend the one-day event which is organised by the International Council of Tanners (ICT) and the Brazilian Tanners Association (CICB).

Members of the International Council of Tanners' (ICT), International Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Association (ICHSLTA) and the International Union of Leather Technicians and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) met in Rio de Janeiro on November 8, on the eve of the first World Leather Congress to discuss future co-operation.

Over 400 delegates are attending the two-day World footwear Congress which is taking place in Rio de Janeiro today and tomorrow. The congress is taking place at the Hotel Sofitel on Rio's famous Copacabana beach.

The situation for the tannery and shoe factory for Ecco in Thailand remains unchanged and the tannery has been under water for one month by the beginning of November.

Slava Lagunov passed away on October 25 aged 58. He represented all of the former Soviet Union countries for Swiss tannery equipment maker Hüni where he will be remembered as a kind and cheerful professional.

G-III Apparel stocks are on the rise, up 9.8% to $29.43.  G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. manufactures and distributes leather and non-leather outerwear apparel.

Clariant, a leading supplier of leather chemicals, have adopted a three-pillar formula to innovation. The three pillars are: the effect that any new development will have on the environment, its economic impact and viability and the demands of the customers.

Next years GDS – the International Event for Shoes & Accessories – and Global Shoes the trade show for sourcing – will be held from March 14-16 and from September 5-7, 2012. 

JBS have informed their shareholders and the market in general that it has not violated any agreement or commitment made to public and civil institutions in Brazil. The Company stresses that it adopts strict controls of its raw material sourcing, follows a rigorous sustainability policy, monitors its suppliers and rejects any practices that harm the environment or people.