20 February 2025
At the upcoming Leather Supply Chain Symposium 2025, Katie Kutskill from Is It Leather? will discuss the need for the industry to unite.
In the presentation, titled “Unified Leather: The Path to Market Relevance”, Kutskill will discuss how the leather industry stands at a critical crossroads. While synthetic alternatives have flooded the market, leather remains fragmented – slowing progress and weakening its influence. History shows that industries like dairy and wool thrived by uniting under a single, powerful message. Leather must do the same.
She will explore the urgent need for collaboration, the risks of continued division and a roadmap for reclaiming market relevance. It’s time to align, amplify our message, and educate consumers before misinformation dictates the future. The choice is clear: unite or risk irrelevance.
About the presenter
Katie Kutskill holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MSc in Leather Technology from the University of Northampton. She has over a decade in the leather industry, with her most recent roles as Technical Director at the Sustainable Leather Foundation and Executive Global Director of Product Development & Sustainability Officer at Pangea. Currently she supports the industry with the Is It Leather? global campaign.
Look out for more speaker and topic announcements
In the coming weeks, ILM and APLF will be announcing more speakers and topics for the half-day conference. The event is aimed at anyone working in the global leather supply chain, from raw materials through to finished products manufacturers, brands and retailers. Keep an eye on the ILM and APLF websites as well as our social media channels for regular updates.
The Leather Supply Chain Symposium 2025 is lead sponsored by Evolved By Nature and Mindhive Global. It is a must-attend event for anyone looking to find out more about some of the industry’s hottest topics such as traceability, deforestation legislation, AI technology, biobased chemistries and life cycle assessments for leather.
Book your delegate place today
To book your delegate place please click here and complete the registration and payment forms.
To book more than three places at a discounted price or for any other queries regarding booking, please email [email protected].
We bring leather, material and fashion businesses together: an opportunity to meet and greet face to face. We bring them from all parts of the world so that they can find fresh partners, discover new customers or suppliers and keep ahead of industry developments.
We organise a number of trade exhibitions which focus on fashion and lifestyle: sectors that are constantly in flux, so visitors and exhibitors alike need to be constantly aware both of the changes around them and those forecast for coming seasons.
