I have been fortunate enough to have been included in many discussions over the past year or so about an idea to bring all parties involved in the leather supply chain together to form one non-political, non-partisan entity. That entity has become Leather Naturally!
The magazine, of which I am editor, Leather International, has acted as a mouthpiece for the tanning industry since 1867 and our role over the decades has been to support the leather industry. By facilitating this event we hope in our own small way to help get Leather Naturally! off the ground by getting a group of individuals and organisations together to discuss a strategy to promote leather as a natural and beautiful material. It is important to get this message across to future generations as well as fight our corner against the pressure groups and the activists.
Sadly, our industry does not have a strong enough voice at the moment and either buries its head in the sand or is reactive to situations rather than being proactive.
On the night we have the opportunity to change that and a well managed, well funded campaign could lead to a greater understanding of leather by the consumer and a body that stands-up and argues its corner based on the facts and the truth against its critics.
I would like to thank our sponsors for their support in helping us put on this dinner this evening. It is support like that which could see Leather Naturally! succeed and we can make history on the evening.
Martin Ricker, editor,
Leather International magazine
