The 105th edition of the Lineapelle trade show in Milan was attended by 24,977 industry visitors and 18,833 buyers, a number that was 7% higher than the September 2024 edition. A positive result that confirms the show’s role as a benchmark event for leather manufacturing for the luxury, fashion and design sectors, despite the significant disruption the industry is facing.
Lineapelle 105
Lineapelle was held at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition centre on February 25-27, and hosted 1,100 exhibitors, ranging from tanneries to producers of accessories, components, textiles and synthetic materials. Among the event’s highlights were the seven runway shows of the Designers Edition section, the artisanal workshops of the In The Making section, and the Anna Piaggi exhibition curated by MinervaHub.
The show once again featured a section dedicated to the furniture sector, Lineapelle Interiors, featuring 20 unique installations. Lineapelle Interiors extended over 1,000 square metres in Hall 24, and hosted a record 40 exhibitors between tanneries and design studios.
“Leather has always been linked to the fashion industry, but it’s a versatile material and we want to promote its use in the furniture sector too. We very much want to make this an even bigger event, to demonstrate what leather can do for furniture,” said Fulvia Bacchi, CEO of Lineapelle, talking to FashionNetwork.com.
“We’re going through a very tough economic juncture, and in such a phase companies can achieve the most by investing in creativity and sustainability,” added Bacchi, who is also the managing director of Italian tanneries association Unic. “Our association is working with companies to set new decarbonisation standards. We’re also going to face the green challenges linked to the new European eco-design regulations,” she said.
Bacchi also talked about industry consolidation, pursued chiefly by international groups. “It’s a good thing, because it shows belief in the future of leather. Many labels are currently buying [Italian] tanneries to ensure they have a high-quality supply chain. Though this means some of our producers are losing a bit of inspiration and creativity,” concluded Bacchi.
Lineapelle’s next edition will take place on September 23-25 2025, and will focus on the Fall/Winter 2026-27 season. Due to the preparation work for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina-Milan, Lineapelle 106 will be staged in a new location (pavilions 1-3, 2-4 and 5-7), still at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition centre.
