About LHCA

The Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) was established in 2020 following the merger of two of the US’ oldest industry associations, the United States Hide Skin and Leather Association, founded in 1979, and the Leather Industries of America, founded in 1917. The result was a powerful new voice for the sector, a trade body representing the interests of some 75 member companies, large and small, ranging from meat packers and hide processors, to leather tanners and finished leather goods producers, in the US and around the world.

The LHCA is a full-service industry trade association. The association provides its members with government, public relations, and international trade assistance and support. LHCA is a cooperator organization under the US Department of Agriculture’s foreign market development and market access programs, assisting US firms to develop new markets for agricultural exports and to provide the insights and support services necessary for success.

As well as promoting the quality of US-sourced products, we also lead the way working to establish and promote best practice in leather production, to set new international standards in sustainability and traceability, and to promote those values to stakeholders around the world. LHCA is at the forefront of the industry’s needs, providing the industry and stakeholders with education and technical information to compete in today’s global marketplace.

An International Footprint

The US leather and hide sector, including meat packers, hide processors, leather tanners, leather products manufacturers, brokers and dealers, and chemical producers, employs over 5,000 people and is worth some nearly $1 billion per annum. Truly international in scope, it exports several billion dollars worth of material every year, including more than 33 million hides that would otherwise be designated as waste. Exports account for more than 90 per cent of US leather and hide production making it one of the top materials suppliers to the global leather manufacturing industry.

Our Mission

There are three themes that underpin all we do.

To promote quality US leather as the leather of choice, both at home and overseas, working with stakeholders from producer groups to buyers, from fashion houses to end consumers. And to promote the industry encouraging free trade, overcoming logistics issues and exploring new opportunities. We strive to protect and promote the sector.

To support our members as they build their businesses, develop new products and open new channels to market providing resources from research to trade insight and delivered through our international networks. We work to protect and promote the interests of every member whatever the size of their business or area of operations.

To promote leather as a material, championing its sustainable credentials and building on the quality standards and processes that give us confidence in what we do. We work to establish best practice, to communicate that to end users, to create ambassadors for leather and to champion those standards around the world.

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Member Services

LHCA is the voice of the industry in Washington, DC, constantly working to advise and drive policy and to champion the interests of the sector.

Delivering industry insight

Our ability to deliver is driven by our unmatched knowledge of the industry. Our insights team collates the latest in market statistics and trends, provides tracking and commentary on overseas developments, and identifies new market opportunities and trade related issues. Together this enables us to shape and inform both national policy and international activity.

Opening New Markets

Overseas, LHCA works to develop new markets including the hosting of and participation in trade shows including the Hong Kong Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF), Shanghai All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), Milan Lineapelle, among others and regular trade missions alongside a program working with local market trade associations to position leather with new consumer audiences.

Setting the Quality Standard

We work with our partners to develop quality standards for production processes and to develop the infrastructure to protect our sector, from hide traceability programs to quality standards. We stand at the forefront in advancing environmental standards, reviewing, refining and advising on the tanning and production process and chemical and materials usage and working hand in hand with the industry, promoting regulatory compliance critical to ensuring the good reputation of the industry and in the development of best practices.

Promoting Best Practice

The Council also provides international leadership to promote and represent US leather. We deliver expertise to support the wider adoption of US best practice industry standards, working with leading development organizations and playing an active role as members of many of the leading standard setting and sustainability organizations.

Championing US Leather

Our international consumer outreach campaign looks to the future of US leather as a beautiful and sustainable material. Bringing together designers and fashion students, stylists and photographers it provides a platform through website and social channels to engage and educate consumers around the world about leather and to position it as a natural product that has always been, and continues to be, aspirational.

Creating Leather Ambassadors

‘Real Leather. Stay Different’, launched in 2019, is a fast-growing international design competition. It brings together some of the most prestigious design and fashion colleges and their students from around the world encouraging entrants to learn about, and work with, leather creating a new generation of influential ambassadors for tomorrow.

Research & Development

Our Leather Research Laboratory, hosted at the University of Cincinnati, provides support as well as essential assistance to our members and the industry as whole covering testing needs, educational programming and wider technical resources.

All materials are provided in regular releases and reports and our team can be consulted directly by our members. For more information on joining LHCA and our services please click here.