The message from the recent APLF exhibitions held in Hong Kong—Materials, Manufacturing, and Technology (MMT) and Fashion Access (FA)—was that although the global leather industry may be changing, it is also booming and expanding into new and profitable markets.  

With the traditional leather industry merging into the vast international apparel and fashion industry both exhibitions are now focusing more on providing market intelligence, fashion and trend forecasting, and drawing in a broader selection of buyers.

According to the organisers, business at MMT was generally buoyant, and in many cases exceptionally so, and they attributed this in part to the show’s new layout that saw tanners, chemical companies and machinery manufacturers together in Hall 1 for the first time, whilst the increasingly important component supplies segment had a whole hall devoted to it. Furthermore, running MMT over three days (rather than four) was said to have resulted in more activity on the exhibition floor.

Meanwhile Fashion Access witnessed an unprecedented number of new buyers seeking products across all sectors including leather garments, shoes, bags, and belts.