The International Trade Centre (a UN technical cooperation agency) has produced a comprehensive online reference guide to each aspect of the leather industry. The guidebook, published on the Leatherline website: [http://www.intracen.org/leatherline/leather_guide.htm], has been set up with the technical help of ITC experts but is open ended and will henceforth be based on the participation of individuals and organisations around the world willing to share their experience and knowledge.
Topics include production and marketing of hides and skins, leather production and marketing and tannery machinery. Sections on technical innovation and chemicals will be added in the near future. ITC has also opened a virtual museum where old pictures are published. Anyone who has old pictures of the industry is invited to share these on the website. The Leather Museum can be accessed at: [http://www.intracen.org/leatherline/leathermuseum]
Contributions to the guidebook are welcome and should be sent to Raphaëlle Lancey at lancey@intracen.org