PETA spokeswoman, Porva Joshipura, claimed the boycott by companies such as Gap, Banana Republic, Nike and DaimlerChrysler have cost the industry as much as £20 million. (around $31 million)

Mohammad Hashim from the Indian Council of Leather Exporters, talking to the BBC World Service, disputed the claims."The year before last there was an increase in exports of  25% in dollar figures" he said. He added that the leather industry - which employs over 2.5 million people in India- was not to blame for any inhumane treatment, as this would in any case damage the hide and thus reduce its value.

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