Results are in: ILM 2026 Tannery Business Confidence Survey
The ILM Tanner Business Confidence Survey returns for its 12th edition in 2026 in the September/October 2026 digital issue of ILM, available now. Read More...
Business insights for the global leather community
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Thoughtless destruction of books
In his latest comment, Mike Redwood comments on “destructive scanning”, a process whereby secondhand books are acquired, fed to AI for learning purposes and then destroyed. He criticises this practice, noting the potential this has to completely erase historical records, margin notes and leather making processes. Read More...
Ecco moves to Asia in 2026
In his latest comment, Mike Redwood discusses the decision by Ecco Leather to move all its facilities to its Asian plants. Read More...
The Odyssey of leather
In his latest comment, Mike Redwood references the new cinematic release of The Odyssey. From costume design to the way that leather is naturally embedded in human history, he unpacks the significant impact this animal byproduct has had through the ages. Read More...
Watching the 1966 World Cup in Germany
In his latest comment, Mike Redwood reflects on watching the 1966 FIFA World Cup final in Germany, noting that the leather footballs were made by Slazenger in Yorkshire, before arguing that Walsall's decision to retain its Leather Museum offers an opportunity to preserve vital leathermaking skills. Read More...
Death on the Tyne
Reflecting on his early career working at Richardsons and Barrow Hepburn, Mike Redwood discusses deindustrialisation, Braudel’s ground floor and the leather community in his latest ILM column. Read More...
Leather is a material that helps societies flourish
In his latest ILM column, Mike Redwood shares insight from the Leatherwork Showcase and Prizegiving event at Capel Manor. Read More...
Patina as an unspoken given
In his latest ILM column, Mike Redwood discusses the notion of patina in leather - something that was once a given. Read More...
Italian leather machinery sector declines 11% in 2025
The Italian machinery sector for footwear, leather goods and tanning recorded an 11% decline in 2025, continuing the downturn that began in 2023, according to Italian tannery, leather goods and footwear machinery manufacturers association, Assomac. Production was estimated at €512 million, following a 12% fall in 2024. Read More...
Leather as radical resistance to a dematerialised world
In his latest ILM column, Mike Redwood discusses the marketing of leather and its unique selling points which offer tangible connection - a radical, counter-cultural movement in an increasingly “dematerialised world". Read More...
