International Council of Hides, Skins & Leather Traders Associations
About ICHSLTA
The Council provides valuable global networking opportunities and forums for robust, productive discussion, helping to strengthen cross-country and industry collaboration on key regulatory, logistics, and market issues. It also supports members in arbitration matters and offers clear guidance on production, grading, and marketing to enhance reliability and cross-border understanding.
Acting both independently and in collaboration with national trade associations and other internationally recognised bodies, the Council ensures members have a voice in industry discussions, including ESG developments, leather advocacy, and regulatory frameworks for hides, skins, and leather.
Council meetings create opportunities for engagement on trade and related interests, keeping members informed of global trends and developments that directly impact the leather industry. These provide valuable insights, facilitate access to key stakeholders across the value chain, and enhance members’ international credibility and commercial standing.
Objectives
To promote and improve relations and conditions in the hide, skin and leather industry as well as to serve the interests of the members
To promote the free trade of hides, skins and leather
To promote the voluntary adoption of contracts or other documents by members of the trade
To collect and disseminate statistics and other information relating to trade, commerce and manufacturing
To formulate, settle, approve and circulate equitable and convenient forms of contracts and any other documents which may be of use to the trade
To promote trade uniformity in commercial usages, especially with regards to forms of contract, charter parties, bills of lading, policies of insurance
To secure mutual support and co-operation in dealing with all matters or questions affecting the general and common interests of the trade
To communicate and cooperate with governments, chambers of commerce and international organisations representing the trade
To communicate and cooperate with governments, chambers of commerce and international organisations representing the trade
Why Join?
Benefits of being part of ICHSLTA
Membership fees are available upon request from the secretary
Global Contacts
Access to worldwide contacts of raw material suppliers and tanneries
Face to Face Meetings
Opportunities for face-to-face meetings with major industry actors twice yearly
Be Informed
Access to the latest trends and developments in the global hide, skin and leather industry
Be Recognised
An officially recognised place to voice your views on key trade issues
Members
ICHSLTA is comprised of full members and associate members. Full members have full voting rights and represent their country’s hide, skin and leather industries. Associate members are individual companies where their own country lacks an official organisation representing their industry. Members share valuable country trade information with ICHSLTA and contribute to strengthening ICHSLTA’s voice in global discussions.
The AGM is held annually during the Asia Pacific Leather Fair in Hong Kong with another mid-term meeting at the All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai.
Executive Committee 2025-2027
President
Micaela TOPPER
Australia
Vice President
ZHANGUANG Chen
China
Vice President
Nick WINTERS
France
Current Full Members
Current Associate Members
Crawford Hide Company
Manders HIDES
Waitoa Tannery
International Contracts
Free Copies Available to Download
The Contracts 6 & 7 are reviewed periodically to meet changing world developments and are used internationally as well as domestically within national markets. Since their inception, more than sixty years ago the International Contracts have been upheld by International Courts of Law and Chambers of Arbitration.
ICHSLTA Past Presidents
1929-1947
Harold W Chadwick (England)
1965-1974
F L Johnston (England)
1981-1992
William Carey (USA)
1998-2000
Gunter Hackmann (South Africa)
2004-2008
Pierre Bonefant (France)
2012-2014
John J Reddington (USA)
2016-2021
Stephen M. Sothmann (USA)
1948-1964
William E S Jotcham (England)
1975-1981
George J Potter (England)
1993-1998
Michael F Johnston (England)
2000-2004
John R Gorman (Australia)
2008-2012
Mrs Zhang Shuhua (China)
2014-2016
Nicholas B G Winters (France)
2021-2024
Toni BALTES (Germany)
Contact Us
Get in touch with ICHSLTA for membership enquiries or any further information
Head Office
Hong Kong