Leather UK launches repair tie-up with charity shops
Industry body Leather UK has launched a ‘repair and restore’ collaboration with charity shops and leather restorers, aimed at breathing new life into donated leathergoods.
Restorations have been carried out by Leather Repair Company its Hull workshop and Mulberry, whose artisans rejuvenated a Somerset Tote at their Lifetime Service Centre at The Rookery, one of its carbon neutral Somerset factories.
The bags have been returned to the Mary's Living and Giving shop in Chiswick, London, where they were donated.
The initiative is designed to demonstrate to shoppers that with a little bit of TLC, the innate properties of leather mean that well-used or tired-looking leather products can be readily refurbished and restored.
Bags repaired will carry the ‘Leather for Life’ swing tag - Leather UK’s labelling initiative for British leather goods that provides consumers information about leather, including facts about how leather is produced and its status as a by-product of the food industry.
Dr Kerry Senior, director at Leather UK, said: “Leather is a natural and durable material that, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime, embodying the core values of slow fashion. Unlike ultra-processed materials such as plastic-based leather alternatives, which will deteriorate over time, leather ages beautifully, developing a patina that tells the unique story of each bag. This collaboration demonstrates the role leather plays in a more sustainable future by encouraging consumers to make more considered and sustainable choices.”
