This year’s All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai, running concurrently with China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai, was bigger than ever, with 7 halls covering leather, synthetics, machinery and finished products. The atmosphere was buzzing and the stands in the main leather and chemical areas were all busy.
The chemical companies focus now seems to be themed sales. There were no great new technical claims to the fore, but many stands were focusing on safer processing (no restricted chemicals) and ease of application.
The machinery section was well supported and well equipped. In recent years, machinery companies have been reluctant to invest in setting up moving/operating heavy equipment at trade shows. However, there were operating drums on show along with other heavy machines to view. The focus was clearly on locally produced equipment. Approaching the stands as a foreigner, the first language was mandarin and there was not a lot of English available for the casual visitor; clearly an indication that the target market for this equipment is local. It is difficult to assess the quality of this equipment but at first glance, it looked simply constructed but robust.
As to the leather on view, it is becoming more and more difficult to identify trends. If you want it, it is there – somewhere! There were a lot of interesting foiled leathers on show, continuing the trend of extending “leather looks” by adding metallic, highly coloured and fashionably patterned foils to leathers. This offers a variation from the traditional “leather” looking leather. A range of synthetic materials were also on show. While exhibitions such as this allow leather and synthetics to mix freely, there will continue to be a blurring of the difference between leather and synthetics (probably as much through ignorance as to what leather is, rather than outright deception).
Although there was a good representation of international leather and chemical companies, the fair is strongly focused on the local market. As was reported through a CLIA presentation at a conference the day before the Fair opened, China is still maintaining a strong positive growth. A lot of statistics were presented but the message was very simple, The China Leather Sector is continuing to grow. Even with hide prices at record highs the market is strong, the Chinese consumer market is strong in all sectors, and this fair is catering for this.
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