The announcement, made before an audience of international leather manufacturers, suppliers, associations and other industry stakeholders, marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration for one of the world’s oldest and most important industries. The following Q&A with the GLA unpacks what to expect from the new alliance.
What is GLA’s mission?
GLA is an independent, international non-profit organisation (AISBL) established to unite and mobilise the leather industry around a shared mission: to protect, promote and advance real leather through engagement, education, collaboration and science-based communications.
Built for the industry, by the industry, GLA serves as a transparent funding and coordination hub, ensuring that global resources are directed towards strategic initiatives that strengthen the reputation, sustainability and long-term future of real leather.
How will GLA operate?
Our ethos is built on four core pillars that combine the operational discipline of a for-profit organisation with the transparency, accountability, and collective decision-making of a non-profit:
Unite: Bring together existing leather organisations, suppliers, manufacturers, and artisans under a unified global strategy. Working groups will be set up with global organisations to ensure their voices are heard and their initiatives are supported. Global industry associations will not be charged fees, so we do not redistribute valuable resources outside your region. The goal is to honour the principle that we are stronger together than apart.
Fund: Create a trusted mechanism to raise, manage and deploy resources where they can have the greatest impact for leather. Membership fees are not the end goal – they are the foundation that enables us to build the strategy to unlock millions of dollars in new funding.
Empower: Giving members a direct voice in setting priorities, selecting projects, and making investment decisions. One company, one vote. Companies vote on board members, budgets, and industry proposals. Expert opinions, market research, and strategic options are proposed; the industry decides.
Protect: Safeguarding the reputation, value and future of real leather through coordinated global initiatives. We recognise that each region and country may have unique ways to reach their own communities, but collectively we have another job – to support the thread that connects us all.
Why establish another leather organisation?
GLA has not been created to replace existing associations. Rather, it was established to be the uniting mechanism between those that already exist. Many of today’s greatest challenges – including consumer perception, misinformation and global outreach – extend beyond national borders. GLA provides a coordinated international platform through which the industry can work together.
Who established GLA?
The organisation has been developed collaboratively by industry leaders representing multiple countries and every segment of the leather value chain.
Will GLA replace existing trade associations?
No. Existing associations continue to play a vital role within their respective regions and sectors. The GLA has been established to complement their work by addressing issues that require coordinated global collaboration. It will advance initiatives that connect existing organisations and leverage the industry’s global expertise, research, and resources across the entire value chain.
Why launch GLA now?
The leather industry has experienced significant declines in demand in recent years while consumer misinformation and regulatory pressures have increased. Industry leaders recognised that a stronger, coordinated global response was needed.
Is GLA opposed to synthetic materials?
No. GLA exists to promote leather by communicating accurate, science-based information regarding its durability, longevity, performance and environmental attributes. Its focus is on promoting leather rather than criticising alternative materials.
How will GLA be funded?
The organisation will be supported through industry participation, membership and other appropriate funding mechanisms. The aim is to utilise membership funding to enable us to apply for larger public and private grants to scale funding strategically.
Who can become involved?
Companies, organisations and stakeholders from every part of the global leather value chain will have opportunities to participate. Currently, this does not include Brands or Resellers, but we aim to include them in upcoming years.
What are the Alliance’s initial priorities?
- Establish governance.
- Expand international membership.
- Start market research projects
- Initiate Working Groups & Regional Association Advisory Council
- Build and propose annual budget and strategy including, but not limited to, engagement, education and science-based communications
- Build strategic partnerships.
- Increase funding through grants and global governmental involvement.
What does “For the Industry, By the Industry” mean?
GLA has been created by leather industry leaders to serve the collective interests of the global leather community rather than any individual company, country or sector. The industry members also get to vote on the budget and strategy ensuring the industry maintains leadership in their own future.
How will success be measured?
Success will be measured through stronger global collaboration, broader industry participation, improved public understanding of leather, more effective outreach and increased confidence in leather around the world.
What is your message to the global leather industry?
No single company or organisation can shape the future of leather alone. By working together across companies, countries and sectors, the global leather community can more effectively protect, promote and advance one of the world’s most enduring and valuable natural materials.
