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India can Lead the World in Leather and Footwear Exports says Prime Minister Modi....
Rahul Gandhi Meets with Dharavi Leather Workers to Understand Industry Challenges | Tandy Leather Reports $74.4M Revenue in 2024 and more in this week's global leather Industry news
Arshad Leathernews.org
March 09, 2025
Good Morning & Welcome to our weekly newsletter! Here, we bring you the entire week's global news, insights, market research & analysis, expert insights and facts from the global "leather, footwear, and leather goods" industry.
In a simplified and easy-to-understand manner, saving you time while keeping you informed & updated under 5 minutes every Sunday at 11am.
In case you missed it, here’s a look at what happened in the Global Leather, Footwear & Leather Goods Industry last week.
LEATHER INDUSTRY NEWS
Tandy Leather Factory’s 2024 revenue fell 2.4% to $74.4M, while net income plunged to $0.8M from $3.8M in 2023. Rising costs and weak retail sales hit margins. A $1.50/share dividend was issued after HQ sale. 2025 challenges ahead, but a 2026 rebound is planned.
PM Modi on March 4th during the virtual webinar on the Union Budget 2025-26 highlighted India's potential to dominate global leather & footwear exports by leveraging craftsmanship, tech & R&D. With Rs 5L Cr in exports & 6 Cr+ MSMEs, boosting this sector can create millions of jobs. Strategic market expansion & strong supply chains are key.
“We must proactively explore new export markets instead of waiting for opportunities. India’s potential in leather and footwear manufacturing is immense, and we need to take strategic steps to enhance our global presence”
Rahul Gandhi engaged with Dharavi’s leather artisans, addressing industry challenges & praising Chamar Studio’s success in blending tradition with modern design. He emphasized inclusive growth & artisan empowerment. Workers gifted him leather bags in appreciation.
Italian automotive leather maker Pasubio has opened a $13 Million plant in León, Mexico, creating 540 jobs. Supplying brands like BMW & Maserati, this move strengthens Guanajuato’s role in auto supply. With $2 Billion+ FDI in a year, the region is booming.
The Tamil Nadu govt has formed a panel, led by Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, to tackle Vellore’s severe pollution from tanneries, sewage, and sand mining. With TDS levels hitting 15,000 mg/l, urgent action is needed! Can this committee bring change?
Sialkot tannery owners’ protests since 2021 highlight mismanagement in the relocation process. With PTA’s inaction and transparency issues in plot allotments, reforms are crucial. Should tanners form an independent body?
Mindhive Global has partnered with JBS Couros to deploy AI-driven grading tech across 13 sites in Brazil by June 2025! With the ability to process 360 hides per hour at 91%+ accuracy, this collaboration is set to transform leather production.
TFL Group has appointed André Lanning as its new Group CEO, effective March 1, 2025. Lanning, previously at Trinseo, brings a wealth of experience from leading global companies. He’ll focus on innovation, global expansion, and sustainable growth.
WWF has launched the Deforestation Free Leather Fund to reduce deforestation linked to leather production. Focused on regions like Brazil, the fund aims to improve traceability and eco-friendly sourcing. Tapestry has already pledged support, aiming to raise USD 10 million.
Leathernews.org Turns One on March 4th 2025
One year ago, I took a leap & launched Leathernews & today, as I sit back & reflect, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made (Here are some stats & whats next for leathernews)
The other day, a group's MD told me, "People in the industry talk about your posts both on Leathernews & your LinkedIn, Arshad."
Honestly. I was overwhelmed. Because when I started this, I never thought it would reach so many people, let alone become a part of industry conversations.
I bought the domain on March 4th 2024 & posted my first article on March 9th 2024.
Why Did I Start Leathernews?
Honestly? I just wanted to create a space where professionals in the global leather industry could stay informed with no jargon & no paywalls, just easy access to industry news & updates without hours of searching.
That was my WHY BEHIND STARTING LEATHERNEWS & a year later, that hasn’t changed.
About Monetization…
We recently got accepted into Google AdSense, which meant we could start generating some revenue in dollars $.
But then, I started getting messages from our readers that “The ads are distracting” & “It’s messing with the reading experience.”
And you know what? That’s not what Leathernews is about.
This was never about money it was about impact.
So, we will be removing google ads from Leathernews.org soon to keep the experience clean & distraction free.
Here are some Stats:
I don’t usually focus on numbers, but these milestones remind me of how far we have come
▪️ 13,000+ website visitors.
Not massive but for a one man, part time project? I'll take it (haha).
▪️ 370 articles in 365 days.
That means one article every single day, including some from industry experts.
LinkedIn Reach:
▪️ 591,514 impressions
(Over half a million people saw our news)
▪️ 12,602 reactions
▪️ 755 comments
▪️ 4,330 followers in a year (~12 new followers per day)
▪️ 2,102 LinkedIn subscribers to our Weekly Roundup
So, What’s Next?
Well, I could just say that this is just the beginning.
Year 2 is going to be bigger & better with a couple of new ideas, fresh content & even more value for the community.
Finally, to everyone who has supported this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The messages, the shares, the encouragement it all means the world to me.
Here’s to another year of Leather News
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Written & Published by Arshad | Leathernews.org
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