The Leather and Hide Council of America and the African Leather and Leather Products Institute [ALLPI] have partnered to launch the Real Leather. Stay Different. African Talent Leather Design Showcase 2023.
The new partnership, which commits to educating the next generation of creatives, aims to reshape education around the production and use of sustainable leather across Africa. Through the RLSD African Showcase ’23, L&HCA and ALLPI will promote the development of sustainable leather production among small and medium sized enterprises. As part of the initiative, a dedicated education program will be delivered, via a workshop series hosted at ALLPI’s satellite design studios located in its 10 member countries, that explores fashion, production and sustainability.
The workshops will be designed to help improve business efficiency and minimize negative environmental and social impacts. They will be open to creatives studying or working at small and medium sized enterprises and will showcase the future of leather design, its sustainability benefits and how innovations can be implemented within their creative practices to further reduce waste.
Real Leather. Stay Different. has a strong ethos of supporting the next generation of creative business talent with an aim to re-build, re-educate, and re-position. The new partnership brings to the forefront a common set of values to support sustainable leather value chains and emerging creatives through
education.
The RLSD African Showcase ’23, is open to talent studying or working in art and design via the ALLPI’s design studios. Showcase participants will be challenged to design a single piece of apparel, accessory, footwear or furniture item using natural materials and 50% or more leather. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to create their design concept at one of the ALLPI’s satellite design studios. Finalists will present their work during a live showcase finale at the All Africa Leather Fair 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
