The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA), the trade body representing the U.S. hide, skin, and leather industry, applauds fashion industry standards and certification organization Textile Exchange for its recent adoption of an official definition of “leather” as a material created from the hide or skin of an animal. LHCA encourages other organizations and companies in the fashion and footwear sectors to follow suit in order to encourage increased transparency in materials labeling.
U.S. Leather Industry applauds adoption of ‘leather’ definition by Textile Exchange
According to a statement issued to its membership on Thursday, November 3rd, 2022, Textile Exchange adopted widespread legal terminology for the definition of ‘leather,’ noting that it is aligning with the EU directive 94/11/EC, ISO 15115, and EN 15987:2015, which state that “leather” is defined as “a hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact and tanned so it does not rot.”