Born in 2018 and specialized in the production of high-end technical and sportswear, Suns has been able to distinguish itself with a personal idea of contemporary and affordable, comfortable and functional daywear. Accuracy of production and masterful design of collection models always highlight a careful selection of materials, finishes and various applied details.
The creativity of Suns garments from season to season creates collections based on the concepts of technical performance, transversality and color play. All garments respond to the need to be 4seasons, for a refined, functional and essential style. The accessories proposal includes backpacks, beauty, and neoprene bags, as well as shoes, that coordinate with the hats and apparel. Suns is also a responsible brand, which does not use animal feathers in its outerwear, focuses on sustainable development and waste disposal.
The Tuscan brand presents the capsule in collaboration with Fruit of The Loom, a perfect encounter between tradition and innovation. The collection, which includes sneakers and apparel, was created under the stylistic guidance of Leo Colacicco, founder of the LC23 brand, combining the historicity and heritage of Fruit Of The Loom with the fresh and contemporary aesthetics of D.A.T.E. Space, moreover, for the new FW 25/26 Quite Elegance collection, which reinterprets the concept of elegance in a modern key. For men, the Torneo Pure Mono Beige, is the sneaker that best represents this concept of understated sophistication. The proposal for women, the Court 2.0 Colored Rose, with its iconic design is enriched with sophisticated details such as the golden square logo, burgundy velvet, wool laces, and suede trim.
With a style that blends tradition and modernity, the LSR project continues to evolve, introducing new models and colorways that celebrate the brand’s heritage through a contemporary and innovative vision. Inspired by the dynamism and elegance of tennis, the project recalls not only the competitive spirit and attention to detail typical of the sport, but also its ability to combine performance and style. Each proposal is designed to meet the needs of a dynamic consumer, attentive to design and quality, without sacrificing comfort. FW25/26 novelties include in particular LSR HIGH TOP, a new high-top model that combines aesthetics and functionality. Thanks to the design and technical details, these sneakers offer ideal support to face everyday life in style. Sophisticated finishes and attention to materials make them a distinctive choice for those who love to dare.
TFL Group, a leading global provider of specialty chemicals for the leather industry, announced the appointment of André Lanning as Group CEO, effective March 1, 2025. He succeeds Russ Taylor, who is stepping down for personal reasons.
André Lanning
André joins TFL from Trinseo, where he most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer. With a distinguished career spanning executive leadership roles—including CEO, SVP, and VP positions at Kemira, Yara International, Nuon, Advanced Refining Technologies (ART) and W.R. Grace—he brings a wealth of global experience, deep market expertise, and strategic vision to his new role.
Under André’s leadership, TFL will continue its focus on sustainable growth, market leadership, and innovation in an evolving industry landscape. His strategic priorities include driving commercial excellence, expanding market share, optimizing operational synergies, and pursuing organic growth opportunities. Additionally, he will explore strategic M&A initiatives to further strengthen TFL’s competitive position.
“We are excited to welcome André to TFL Group and look forward to his leadership in guiding the company’s next phase of growth and success” top management comment.
About TFL
TFL develops, produces, and markets innovative chemical solutions for tanneries, leather processing companies, and coaters, continuously striving to introduce fresh ideas to the market. Its portfolio includes tanning agents, dyestuffs, and finishing products, which play a vital role in transforming raw hides into high-quality leather used in automotive interiors, fashion, furniture, and beyond. Through innovation and sustainability, TFL supports its customers in creating premium leather solutions that meet the highest industry standards.
The Executive Committee of the IULTCS announced the winners of the 2025 IUR research grants to be awarded to young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the work of young talent in the leather sector.
This is the tenth year of the grants which have been generously supported by the industry. The Selection Committee of the IULTCS Research Commission (IUR), chaired by Dr. Volker Rabe, announced the following recipients:
Basic Leather Research Grant 2025
Mr. Zoheb Akhter from LASRA, New Zealand. The title of his project is “Alkaline Hydrolysis of Zeolite and Chrome Shavings: Investigating the fate of their hydrolysate and Undigested Materials”
Zoheb Akhter
Project’s main objective is to hydrolyse Shavings (zeolith and chrome tanned) to providing insight into the purity of the hydrolysates, particularly in terms of organic and inorganic content. Furthermore, studying the fate of chrome and zeolites during hydrolysis will reveal the extent to which these tanning agents remain bound to the collagen matrix or are released for assessing the implications of tanning agents on the hydrolysis process.
Professor Mike Redwood Sustainability/Environmental Grant 2025
Dr. Yudan Yi from Jiaxing University, China “A cationic amphiphilic acrylic copolymer for metal-free eco-leather production: Integration of retanning and fatliquoring”.
Yudan Yi
The general objective is to develop a cationic amphiphilic copolymer with retanning and fatliquoring dual function, which can be utilized in post-tanning process to produce eco-friendly metal-free leather with high performance and the ability to save leather chemicals, reduce the discharge into wastewater, and shorten the processing time.
Leather Machinery/Equipment Grant 2025
Will not be awarded this year
Dr. Volker Rabe congratulates the winners and thanks all participants who submitted proposals. He emphasizes the strong innovative power and talent of the industry. He also acknowledges the contributions of the reviewers and the generous support of the sponsors Tyson Leather (basic leather research) and Leather Naturally (sustainability/environment). The IULTCS looks forward to the valuable insights from these projects and wishes the award winners continued success in further developing industry knowledge.
Leather Naturally has just published their newest resource: A Guide to Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in the Leather Industry. “We’re keen to share all the insights gained conducting our own aggregated LCA study with SPIN 360, which looked at 56 LCAs across 11 countries” explain from the international organization for the promotion of sustainable leather.
The guide outlines:
* The importance of using LCAs for making informed decisions about material and product sustainability.
* The different methodologies for LCAs and the benefits of each approach.
* Where businesses can source data when conducting their own LCAs.
* The potential output of LCA studies and how that output might be used.
* Limitations & challenges for businesses conducting their own LCAs.
* The findings of Leather Naturally’s aggregated LCA study and insights from its combined data submission to the Higg with Leather Working Group in 2024.
“We hope this guide can be used by stakeholders across the leather industry to better understand LCAs and foster more useful, scientific information about leather’s environmental impacts”.
Cyber Reflections aims to transcend the conventions of the past through the use of fluid proportions, amplified volumes, and lightweight technological materials to explore new expressive, personal, and identity boundaries.
From nature with love
A latent, dreamlike nature characterizes this theme. A nature not explicitly visible, but always present in a veiled and symbolic way. Nature is explored as a mystical and introspective journey, shifting from warm and familiar tones to deeper, nocturnal hues.
Retro modernism
Retro Modernism takes the form of a refined fusion of past and present, in which aesthetic and conceptual elements from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s are reinterpreted in a contemporary key. This movement not only nostalgically reintroduces the icons of the past, but also reworks shapes, materials, and volumes, resulting in a new aesthetic that connects tradition and innovation.
Romantic spirit
It is a modern and refined romanticism, expressed through a delicate and nostalgic sensibility. A vision that recalls the elegance and charm of the past, reinterpreted in a contemporary key. A strong connection is made with emotions and introspection. Romantic Spirit is not limited to aesthetics, but evokes a sense of nostalgia, dreaming and reflection.
Because Arsutoria, the workshop school, lives up to its claim by
organising courses that not only teach and delve into the materials,
design, technique and production of the world of footwear and
bags, but are actually a workshop full of opportunities.
Having entrepreneurs and technicians from leading companies in the sector in the classroom as adjunct teachers and visiting their production sites. Or, to have the opportunity to participate in international contests or even to walk the catwalk and thus showcase one’s know-how.
Take an active part in projects developed in partnership with some of the most important masoins and benefit from the opportunity to observe how people work in renowned fashion brands. Last but certainly not least, make your own prototypes of shoes or bags, or try your hand at building exclusive models developed by the Arsutoria School staff.
All this being said, how is it possible not to think that the international school based in Milan for designers and pattern-makers does not
represent an unmissable opportunity! Not only to learn everything
you need to know to start working in listed companies knowing
exactly what to do, but also an opportunity to get to know in depth
and directly the protagonists of the industry, the companies that
work every day in the world of footwear and leather goods.
After years of growth, 2024 looms as a year of “suffering” for fashion in general and for Italian menswear. Against a backdrop of great uncertainties, the greatest fears are to be found in the lower propensity of consumers to buy, sharp increases in costs, the slowdown of many major economies, as well as geopolitical tensions related to both the various ongoing conflicts and a series of key political elections, such as the European elections last June and the most recent American ones.
According to estimates compiled by the Economic Studies Office of Confindustria Moda, Italian men’s fashion (in a sense that includes ready-to-wear, outerwear, shirts, ties and leather apparel) is expected to file 2024, after three years of continuous growth, with a -3.6 percent decline in sales compared to the previous year. In 2024, therefore, Italian menswear turnover would rise to 11.4 billion euros, covering 18.9 percent of the Italian textile-clothing supply chain.
With reference to the individual micro-sectors examined here, in 2024 they are all affected by negative dynamics, with the exception of leather clothing. In 2024, the value of production (recall that this variable is proposed to estimate the value of production activity carried out in Italy, net of the marketing of imported products) shows a decrease of -4.0 percent over 2023. Over the course of the year, cross-border sales remained positive, albeit at a slower pace: exports are expected to change by +0.6%. The total level of foreign sales would thus rise to about 8.9 billion euros. The share of exports in total industry sales would continue to strengthen, reaching 77.8 percent.
In contrast, with regard to imports, a decline of -6.6 percent over the 12 months is projected, with total sectoral imports amounting to 5.3 billion.
Given the aforementioned foreign trade trend, an improvement is expected for the sectoral trade surplus; in fact, the total surplus is expected to rise to more than 3.6 billion in the full year.
Import and export
A more detailed picture shows, from January to September 2024, how menswear exports remained positive, registering a growth of +1.0%, reaching 7.1 billion euros. On the contrary, on the import side, in the first nine months of 2024, made-in-Italy menswear shows an average decline of -7.2%, dropping to around 4.8 billion.
About the main destinations, France is confirmed in the lead, with +7.5 percent, securing 12.8 percent of total exports, followed by Germany, with 10.1 percent of men’s exports, despite a -2.9 percent drop. This was followed in third place by the United States, up +0.6 percent, thus absorbing 9.3 percent of men’s fashion exports. Thanks to strong growth of +30.1 percent, China climbs to fourth place.
Looking at performance by product line, from January to September 2024, export growth is noted for all items except ties, which show a -7.6 percent decline. Leather apparel, with a growth of +9.7 percent, is the best performer; outerwear shows a dynamic of +1.3 percent; followed by men’s shirts (+1.2 percent) and men’s knitwear (with a smaller increase: +0.4 percent).
Relative to supply markets in the first nine months of 2024, however, China remains the top supplier with a 12.5 percent significance, despite a -9.8 percent decline over the same period in 2023. Bangladesh, in second position, shows a double-digit decline (-12.3%), as does France, third, which flexes by -10.4%.
In the case of supplies from abroad, in the first nine months of 2024, there is a contraction in imports for all products except leather clothing, which grows by +6.6 percent.
Turning to consumer analysis on the domestic market, with reference to AW 2023-24, Textile-Clothing as a whole was characterized by a negative dynamic in contrast to that recorded in the previous F/W season: in value it experienced a decline of -3.8% and in volume of -4.7%, while F/W 2022-23 had filed +5.9% in value and +2.3% in volume.
The circumstance in which the Veldskoen Shoes project comes to life is rather curious: In 2016, during a conversation about the Rio Olympic Games, the two founding partners Nick Dreyer and Ross Zondagh are disappointed that the South African Olympic team parades through the opening ceremony wearing inappropriate clothing to represent the nation. They therefore begin to think of an iconic South African garment for the athletes to wear in the future to better represent their country, and the choice falls on veldskoen. By adding a touch of color to the soles, stitching and laces, what is the distinctive look of Veldskoen today was born. The name itself is curious: the word “Veldskoen” was first documented by Dutch settlers arriving in southern Africa nearly 400 years ago and means “camp shoes.” However, according to the tribal folklore of the two main ethnic groups in Southern Africa, they were leather shoes, cut from a single skin, made and worn by tribes as early as 1,000 years earlier. Starting from the original design of these shoes, the brand’s signature product that we know today was born and has captured the hearts of not only the , but the world with some famous fans such as Ashton Kutcher, Prince Harry and Matthew McConaughey.
