Lineapelle, not just trade fair: investment in supply chain storytelling and talent

An integral part of the textile-fashion-accessory (Tma) industry, the leather sector, like the whole of the extended fashion system, in 2025 has to contend with the global slowdown and geopolitical unknowns, to which has been added the uncertainty of the European regulatory framework, which for the leather supply chain is particularly delicate, although everyone recognises the need for companies (and consumers) to commit to more sustainable behaviour.

Far from taking steps backwards, in 2025 Unic-Concerie italiane - the industry association that also organises the Lineapelle fairs - continued to promote knowledge of the industry in Italia and abroad, and 2026 opens with two important appointments. From 11 to 13 February just under 900 exhibitors will be in Rho for Lineapelle, while from 26 February to 1 March - in partial concurrence with the women's fashion days - the Lineapelle Designers Edition will be held, with fashion shows, installations and artistic contaminations for the 2026-2027 autumn-winter season.

'In a context in which creativity in the fashion industry is undergoing a profound redefinition,' explained Fulvia Bacchi, Managing Director of Lineapelle and General Manager of Unic, in Milan yesterday, 'Lineapelle Designers Edition takes on even greater significance. Supporting new creativity means laying the foundations of tomorrow's fashion today. In recent years we have organised 67 events, including fashion shows and presentations,' added Bacchi, 'demonstrating how leather can be interpreted through countless languages and how it represents one of the most extraordinary materials in the fashion system in terms of beauty, durability, circularity and sustainability. The support of the City of Milan and the collaborations with the Fashion Trust of the National Chamber of Fashion have allowed us to build a showcase capable of narrating cutting-edge creativity, which always places leather at the centre of the project'.

On a territorial level, the Italian tanning sector operates in four industrial districts (Arzignano, Santa Croce sull'Arno, Turbigo, Solofra), has 1,100 companies, employs more than 17,000 people and generates a turnover of more than EUR 4 billion, 70% of which is attributable to exports.

In addition to supporting designers at other international events, Lineapelle and Unic have been offering training and dissemination activities in cooperation with institutes and schools all over the world for over 20 years. In 2025 alone, workshops, lectures, structured courses, collaborations and competitions were organised involving more than 4 thousand students in over 130 educational projects at institutes ranging from Denmark to Naples, from Tokyo to Antwerp. Without forgetting that Lineapelle-Unic's training model does not only concern classrooms where fashion is taught, but enters business schools as a reference point for managers and technicians of brands in the luxury supply chain (about 500 have participated in 27 training modules in 2025). It is estimated that the training courses organised by Lineapelle-Unic have involved over 80,000 students worldwide over the years.