Leather show to attract foreign buyers

With the leather exports recording a 17 per cent growth in the last six months, the 'International Leather Fashion Show 2005' to start on February 1 in Chennai expects to attract more international buyers.

"The fashion trend is moving from strong and rugged designs to more elegant and classic shapes and designs. This fashion show, with the theme of 'Classic Chic', is expected to bring in more international buyers," convenor of the show, Satish Jhadav said.

"Indian creativity is getting more acceptance worldwide. Our leather industry is poised for quantum growth. In the last six months, the leather exports have recorded a growth of 17 per cent, after remaining low in the last two years," chairman of council for leather exports, Habib Hussein, said.

The Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion) leather industry is targeting to treble its size by 2012 and aims at doubling the exports by 2009, he added.

The leather garments industry accounts for 20 per cent of total exports, managing director of Orient Express, Mohan Srinivasan said, adding if China was good at manufacturing in huge volumes, the Indian industry offered better quality, colours and designs.