ICHSLTA meets at Shanghai
New paradigms for leather
The All China Leather Exhibitions event (ACLE), held recently in Shanghai, was a chance for the International Council of Hides, Skins, and Leather Traders Association (ICHSLTA) to meet and discuss global leather trade, particularly the improper use of the term “hide” to describe non-animal material. ICHSLTA has represented the interests of the global leather and skins trade since 1929, aiming to promote, develop and protect international trade in raw hides and skins.
At the latest general meeting, the Council also held elections for official positions, re-electing Toni Baltes, of Wirtschaftsverband Häute/Leder e.V., as well as current president of the German Hides Association and managing director of A+B HIDES GmbH & Co. KG, as president. Dennis King from Australian Hides Skins and Leather Exporters Association and Nick Winters from French Hides Association were elected Vice Presidents, while Lénaïg Manéat of the French Hides Association – Federation Française des Cuirs et Peaux continues managing the organisation.
With over 40 years’ experience in the industry, gained at raw hide processing plants and national and international leather goods factories, Toni Baltes said he was pleased to have held the meeting in Shanghai, as it enabled colleagues from around the world to meet. He also said the goal of his mandate will be to rehabilitate leather’s reputation as a natural, sustainable and beautiful material, and lastly thanked his colleagues for the trust they have placed in him.