August 25th
- 15 schools and more than 300 students take part in exciting competition
- 23 students were shortlisted in June to make samples for competition’s final stage
- Voting set to go online for shortlist samples from four categories
- Judges to select overall winners for September 8 product demonstration and awards ceremony in Taipei
Taiwan, 25 Aug 2020 “Real Leather. Stay Different.” is a campaign launched by the Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) that celebrates all that is great about leather – sustainability, versatility, durability and beauty. The most recent leg of its worldwide design competition has attracted hundreds of Taiwanese entries, building on the success of similar competitions running in China, Italy and the UK.
The competition, organized by LHCA in partnership with Taiwan International Leather Association (TILA), has attracted more than 300 entries from students from 15 selected Taiwan universities. In June, 23 student designs from four design categories were shortlisted by the impressive line-up of judges and the shortlisted students were requested to make real products, featuring US hide and leather as the principal material, for the competition’s final stage. The category winners are also invited to participate in online voting on Facebook from August 10-31, after which the judge panel will choose an overall winner on September 7.
During the sample production stage, leather catalogues provided by local Taiwanese tanneries were presented to the students and leather materials were mailed to the students following their selection. Leather sponsors include Tyche Leather Industrial Co., Ltd, Wei Tai Leather Co., Ltd, Shan Been Jeou Industrial Co., Ltd, Lien Shun Yang Leather Co., Ltd, Ligo Leather Enterprise Co., Ltd. In addition, Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute, Indian Leather Crafta and Yeh Ming Fu Leather Craft have provided venues for the students to make products and technical assistance in selecting the fabrics.
On September 8, winners will be honored at a product demonstration and awards ceremony hosted by LHCA and TILA at Taipei 101, the 500 metre super-skyscraper in Taiwan. Attendees, including entrants, students and local media, will be able to see examples of the best of the competition.
Competition winners will receive cash awards and US training opportunities sponsored by LHCA. For more information, visit www.chooserealleather.com
For more information, contact Stephen Sothmann at steve@usleather.org.
ABOUT THE LEATHER AND HIDE COUNCIL OF AMERICA
Formed by the 2020 merger of the United States Hide, Skin and Leather Association (USHSLA) and Leather Industries of America (LIA), the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) is a full-service industry trade association representing the entire U.S. leather supply chain, including meatpackers, hides and skins processors, traders, leather tanners, finished leather goods producers, footwear companies, chemical suppliers, machinery producers, trade media and market reporters, freight forwarders, transportation service providers, financial institutions and more. The association provides its members with government, public relations, and international trade assistance and support. LHCA is a cooperator organization under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s foreign market development programs, assisting U.S. firms develop new markets for U.S. agricultural exports. LHCA is at the forefront of the industry’s needs, providing members with education and technical information to compete in today’s global marketplace.
ABOUT TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL LEATHER ASSOCIATION
Taiwanese International Leather Association is organized by Taiwanese tanneries located in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh and so forth, Taiwanese chemical, machine and parts, hides, and environmental consultants.
The mission of Taiwanese International Leather Association:
- To enhance Taiwanese tanneries and all leather associated industries corporation and to share resources and exchange information internationally.
- To integrate all Taiwanese leather related industries in contributing on sustainability and creativity.