The Leather industry generates an annual revenue of over $53 billion, Leather can be dated back to 3000 BC when the Romans used leather sails on their boats, it was used to make tents and weapons, it became more popular when Egyptian women started putting it on. Asides from its fashion purposes, leather was used in Italy during the 17th century as wall papers, it showed how powerful a person could be, it showed the prestige and worth of a person. In today’s contemporary world, Leather has become a major product in the fashion industry, its role can not be over stated, on a normal day an average person is supposedly wearing about three to four leather items.
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The African Fashion Industry has been on a surge, and there is nothing taking that ship abaft, from one successful fashion week to another and now the leather Industry is having its turn. The leather Industry in Nigeria is gaining the recognition it most deserves, leather is said to be the next gold mine in Nigeria and maybe its because it generates N24.5 billion annually and has the capacity to create about 700,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The LAGOS LEATHER FAIR, is said to hold its second edition on the 4th-6th of May 2018, the LAGOS LEATHER FAIR is a private initiative born out of a need to redress the current situation, specifically within the leather industry. It was pioneered in 2017 by FemiHandbags, a brand of My World of Bags, a design and manufacturing company.
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The LAGOS LEATHER FAIR is fundamentally a business project designed to liberate the huge potential of the leather industry and to empower the players along the leather value chain. Its ultimate goal is to deliberate on the challenges facing the industry, start a discourse, tell stories and offer innovative solutions.
Thus year seeks to be the biggest and most innovative, with a theme ‘The New Possible’, it aims to recognize the many possibilities and massive potential the Nigeria leather industry has. The Fair is the first of its kind in the country to cater to this niche sector on such a scale; the event will incorporate exhibitions, masterclasses, panel discussions, workshops, catwalk presentations and a unique retail experience. Key speakers such as Olesegun Awolowo, (ED, CEO Nigerian Export Council), Bill Amberg (owner Bill Amberg studio), Tokyo James( Creative Director, Tokyo James), Adebayo Oke-Lawal (Founder Orange Culture), Omoyemi Akerele(Founder, Style House Files) and so much more would be taking master classes and moderating Panel sessions with topics that suits the leather industry.
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This segment-based approach will provide exposure and a platform for some of Nigeria’s best leather designers of footwear, handbags, apparel, jewellery and much more, to showcase their work. It will also facilitate contacts between raw materials suppliers (tanners), producers of finished leather goods, and retailers. Beyond this, it will provide a learning opportunity for SMEs, and enable necessary business linkages.
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If you are a creative looking to delve into the leather industry, as a retailer, producer or even a consumer, this is the best opportunity you can have, it comes with the price of nothing, so much knowledge and value being given ou tfor free, registration details is available on thelagosleatherfair.com.
By Utibe Ayi
