This season, Oerlikon Riri blends performance with sophistication and heritage with innovation, crafting a collection that embodies both contemporary dynamism and timeless refinement. With an increasing transition to stainless steel components and chains, the collection reflects Oerlikon Riri’s commitment to sustainability. The metal parts contain at least 50% recycled stainless steel, reinforcing the brand’s dedication to eco-conscious innovation. The integration of Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) technology ensures superior durability, reduces environmental impacts, and delivers a high-quality finish. By embracing recycled materials, innovative surface treatments, and high-precision manufacturing techniques, the brand continues to set new standards for excellence in the fashion industry.

The Athletic Elegance theme features high-tech finishes, cutting-edge materials, and a vibrant color palette of aquamarine and red, evoking the dynamism of movement and speed. Stainless steel pullers and precision-engineered buttons with PVD coatings further enhance the collection’s refined technical aesthetic.

 The Neoclassical Luxury theme draws inspiration from classical Greek culture, art, and philosophy, through a modern, minimalist lens. This mood presents a sacred palette of neutral tones – cream, beige, and soft brown – complemented by opulent gold and palladium finishes. The collection introduces exquisitely crafted accessories, including zippers with Greek columninspired pullers, diamond-embellished details, and high-quality natural stones. A prominent feature is the MIM (Metal Injection Molding) technology, which allows for the creation of intricately shaped components with exceptional durability and mechanical properties.

 Through this partnership, the two organisations will drive forward a data-based approach that enables full traceability of leather products back to the individual animal farm, setting a new global standard for responsible sourcing. Leveraging SPOOR’s cutting-edge tracking technology, this initiative ensures that every leather hide can be traced from birth through the tanning process to the final product. This traceability data is subsequently digitized within the OEKO-TEX® Label Check, allowing consumers to effortlessly access and visualize the locations and stages immediately. By additionally certifying each involved production facility for environmentally conscious practices, responsible chemical management and the upholding of social responsibility standards, OEKO-TEX® further advances its MADE IN GREEN label as a benchmark for sustainable and transparent leather. This collaboration is a major step toward a more responsible and environmentally conscious leather industry, offering brands the ability to provide consumers with verifiable insights into their leather products’ origins and production processes.

Conceria Gi.Elle.Emme paid homage to the figure of Pinocchio, the world-famous symbol of Tuscan character, with a stand at Lineapelle Milano dedicated to the famous wooden puppet born from the pen of Carlo Collodi. Here the puppet’s lies are transposed to the world of leather, to take the opportunity to dispel the many false myths circulating about this noble material. Gi.Elle.Emme does this through talking leather, i.e. panels set up inside the stand that are activated by the simple touch of the hand and that provide advice and explanations on the origin of leather, its use and processing. An amusing and involving set-up that wants to launch and reiterate a message of transparency and authenticity of Tuscan leather worked according to the traditional method of slow tanning in tubs.

Gi.Elle.Emme has been investing for a long time to ensure maximum transparency and traceability of its production system. In addition to the ICEC_TS_SC410 traceability certification, the company has recently chosen to calculate the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of four of its articles, in order to numerically analyse the environmental impact of its products throughout their entire life cycle.

Another correlation between the story of Pinocchio and the work of Gi.Elle.Emme is certainly craftsmanship. Like Geppetto, the Tannery recovers a material that would otherwise be destined to decompose, which is waste from the food industry, and ennobles it by giving it a new life in a certain sense.

The heart of ACM’s new proposal is Vision PE26, an expression of research and innovation in which emerging trends merge with artisan know-how to create unique accessories and buttons. Through exclusive finishes and processing, each creation is designed to enhance the stylistic identity of haute couture maisons, guaranteeing details of excellence and Made in Italy quality.

A major novelty is the consolidation of the Aurea line, now in its second season and increasingly focused on the world of high-end leather goods: a selection of sophisticated accessories in which metal, resin and leather details come together to create components with a refined design and high luxury finishes. The line includes precious bases and leather charms made through meticulous handcrafting, emphasising the perfect synthesis of craftsmanship and technological innovation.

They are MX Pro Magister and ST Pro Amici, two lifestyle-inspired models able to ensure comfort, flexibility and extreme grip on every surface, even the wettest and oiliest ones, protecting the foot from contact with liquids at different temperatures and blunt objects. Both available in High and Low versions, the ST Pro Amici does not have an aluminium toe cap, for greater lightness.

Japan’s ASAHI SATO is the winner of the 11th edition of ‘Craft the Leather’, the international competition that celebrates vegetable-tanned leather, involving young talents from the world’s most prestigious fashion and design schools: this is the decision decreed thanks to the evaluations expressed by the Technical Jury, the offline votes of the visitors present at Lineapelle and those collected on the Consortium’s social channels. The expert jury evaluated the collections taking into account multiple factors – from technical workmanship to product design and its relevance to eco-design principles.

In his capsule collection of shoes entitled ‘Roots and Modernity’, Sato wanted to emphasise the link between raw material and craftsmanship: with the intention of enhancing the unique characteristics of vegetable-tanned leather, the soles were modelled by working the leather wet, creating organic undulations that give the shoe a distinctive identity. The selection of uppers and lasts was guided by the intention to balance the natural essence of the material with a refined craftsmanship approach and a contemporary aesthetic sensibility.

‘This collection came from my experience in the Craft the Leather workshop held in San Miniato. Witnessing the traditional process of tanning with vegetable extracts allowed me to rediscover the authentic charm of the material. This experience led to the development of new details, such as cutting lines that are intended to recall the texture of wood,’ said Asahi Sato.

The Design a Bag-DAB 2025 Competition found its conclusion during APLF, the Hong Kong leather fair that hosted the final award ceremony on March 13. The winner of the ‘overall’ award was the Argentine Eliane Yahari with her original Yvoty Bag that earned the opportunity to attend a 4-week design course at the Arsutoria School in Milan. The other two finalists were: Uthra S Ganesh from India with the Kolangal project and Jiang Si Mi from China with her DoDo Bag.

Eliane’s project impressed the jury for the originality of her creation that is inspired by the artisan culture of Paraguay where the young designer grew up and boasts her roots. Her bag is made with scraps of recycled leather assembled together with a particular artisanal technique that come to life like buds in bloom. The Kolangal project by the Indian Uthra S Ganesh also celebrates craftsmanship and is inspired by an ancient Indian tradition of floor decoration. The DoDo Bag by the Chinese Jiang Si Mi stands out for its peculiar bean shape.