Leather is still a crowd-pleaser, depending on the crowd
05/03/2019
The report says discussions during recent industry exhibitions, such as Lineapelle in Milan in February, have served to confirm that the gulf in the appreciation of leather in high-end segments and the lack of interest at the commodity end of the market is not narrowing.
“Away from the commodity consumer business, leather remains in good demand and is still attracting a lot of attention,” Leather Pipeline says. “People like beautiful things and leather that is well made, in keeping with professional manufacturing standards, remains something of beauty; it pleases the senses.”
But in the high-volume, commodity markets it is going to be increasingly difficult to win the support of brands and finished product manufacturers who are afraid of going against the tide in what the report calls an “ideological war” over issues such as animal rights. “They will seek to escape from any potential risk to their image,” the report continues.
On the other hand, it says tanners with links to “strong, leather-friendly clients” appeared happy at Lineapelle. Lower raw material prices have allowed them to pass on some of the savings to their clients and, as a result, some of those companies are using leather in even more products than before.
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