APLF has returned after a significant five-year absence. Its triumphant come-back to its birthplace in Hong Kong coincides with its 40th anniversary. This homecoming is not just a celebration but also a beacon of hope for the leather industry, signalling a potential market revival.
Amidst the challenges of low prices and sluggish demand for leather in the footwear sector, APLF's return to Hong Kong has sparked optimism.
Toni Baltes, president of the International Council for Hides, Skins, and Leather Traders Association, sees this as a potential catalyst for an industry revival.
The fair, which included 740 exhibiting companies, took place last month. The day started well with crowds of visitors waiting to enter the exhibition halls. The event was deemed a great success with 12,000 visitors from 73 countries and regions.
The aim of the fair was to bring the global leather industry's leading players together under one roof to re-establish face-to-face customer contact.
Historically speaking, the leather business has always been a "people business," APLF continues this function even after an enforced five-year absence.
Part of APLF's onsite event agenda was centred around education and information within the leather industry.
One of the key events held during APLF 2024 was the seminar on the main stage, which dealt with deforestation and the regulations governing raw materials exported from the Amazon to the European Union.
Speakers from various organisations attended, such as COTANCE, the Leather Working Group, the Sustainable Leather Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.
APLF also hosted a Global Footwear Executive Summit, an annual gathering of industry leaders, executives and participants from the global footwear sector.
The event helped participants understand the latest materials, manufacturing technology, retail strategies, and consumer behaviour advancements.
To read more about events, click here.
