Press Releases and Latest Industry Information


Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition 2022

Friday, 11th March 2022

The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition (RLSD), in partnership with ArtsThread, the leading digital platform for emerging artists and designers, has confirmed its return for 2022. The competition, which started in 2021, is a global search for new design talent open to students and recent graduates from anywhere around the world. read more


U.S. Leather and Hide Industry 2021 Year End Review; 2022 Projections

Thursday, 17th February 2022

The U.S. hides and skins market recovered in 2021 from previous market lows in 2019 and 2020, as export values across all categories increased significantly. Bovine salted hide exports continued their upward trajectory, rising 64 percent in value last year, while wet blue and pigskin exports reversed their steep declines from the previous year, increasing 53 and 31 percent in value, respectively. Steer hide values, for instance, rebounded in 2021, after falling to their lowest recorded levels in May 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which injected unprecedented uncertainty into the U.S. cattle, beef, and animal by-products markets over the last two years, has abated, though the global leather industry continues to contend with weaker demand and escalating product substitution. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 30th November 2021

Autumn is in full swing, and that means long walks in the country, open fires… and boots! Lovely leather boots, of course. Boots to keep you warm and dry, and boots to get you noticed. If you haven't already, dust off your old favorites or buy some new ones and know they’ll see you through many more years to come. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 23rd November 2021

What do you really think about fast fashion and sustainability? Take our latest quiz to help us understand what drives your fashion choices. Your participation will earn you a chance to win an Amazon e-gift voucher. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 16th November 2021

The North American Meat Institute, an affiliate organization of LHCA, last week launched its Protein PACT initiative and announced that 100 percent of its members will deliver independently approved science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals by 2030. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 9th November 2021

More than 50 fashion and textile companies this week at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland declared their support for an initiative spearheaded by global non-profit Textile Exchange urging governments to pursue trade policies that incentivize the use of environmentally preferred materials. The effort seeks to help the industry meet its climate goals. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 2nd November 2021

LHCA joined 30 other international leather industry organizations in calling on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to prioritize natural materials as a means of directly mitigating climate impact. The organizations released the Leather Manifesto, which challenges the COP26 to recognize the cyclical, climate-efficient characteristics of natural fibers, like leather, and their potential to reduce the climate impacts of consumer products. read more


International Leather Industry Calls on COP26 to Reduce Reliance on Fossil-Fuels, Prioritize Natural Materials

Thursday, 28th October 2021

The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA or Association), along with 30 other international leather industry organizations, today called on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to prioritize natural materials as a means of directly mitigating climate impact. read more


Leather and Hide Weekly

Tuesday, 26th October 2021

LHCA elected seven members to join its Board of Directors and a new association co-chair during its 2nd Annual Meeting and Convention, held October 14-15, in Chicago, Illinois. The hybrid meeting also reinforced the U.S. leather industry's robust sustainability initiatives and commitment to continuous improvement, while showcasing LHCA's groundbreaking international marketing campaign that is delivering engaging content about leather's versatility, beauty and natural characteristics to a global consumer audience. read more


Leather and Hide Council of America Holds Annual Meeting Emphasizing Industry’s Sustainability Efforts

Friday, 22nd October 2021

The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA or Association) elected seven members to join its Board of Directors and a new association co-chair during its 2nd Annual Meeting and Convention, held October 14-15, in Chicago, Illinois. The hybrid meeting also reinforced the U.S. leather industry’s robust sustainability initiatives and commitment to continuous improvement, while showcasing LHCA’s groundbreaking international marketing campaign that is delivering engaging content about leather’s versatility, beauty and natural characteristics to a global consumer audience. read more