ABOUT OURSELVES

The Association was founded in the year 1917 under the name "The Southern India Skin and Hide Merchants Association" SISHMA was then serving  the leather trade and industry of southern India. In 1978, it was converted into an All India body and renamed as "The All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association".

The leather trade in India is basically export oriented. About 70% of the production of leather and leather products is exported from our country. From the export of raw hides and semi-finished (E . I & Wet Blue) leather in the early years, India is now of the major producers and exporters of finished leathers, footwear, footwear components and leather garments and saddlery and harness. The total value of export during the year ended 31 March 2005 was about Rs. 10,691.12 crores. The policy of the Government of India is to encourage value added exports and the industry's response to this is tremendous.

The Association is an apex body to which various district and Regional Associations are affiliated. The Association has been representing to both Central and State Governments on the matters of import-export policies, labour, taxation etc ., affecting leather trade and industry.

The Association is also helping the tanners by importing the most essential pollution free and eco-friendly tanning material i.e. Wattle Extract, and distributing the same at cost, thus benefiting a large number of small tanners. The Association is taking all efforts to adopt the 'Zero Liquid Discharge' technology by the tanners . The Association is also taking all steps to manage the Hazardous Solid Waste in Secured Landfill with the guidance of CLRI and other technical bodies.

The Association is represented on International, National and Regional organisations such as:-

1. International Council of Tanners (ICT), Lewes, England.

2. International Hide and Allied Trades Improvement Society (IHATIS) Lewes, England.

3. The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi.

4. Federation of Indian Export Organisations, New Delhi.

5. Confederation of Indian Industry, New Delhi.

6. The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India, New Delhi.

7. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.

8. All India Manufactures Organisation, Bombay.

9. Council for Leather Exports, Chennai.

10. The Employers Federation of Southern India, Chennai.

11. The Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chennai.

12. The Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, Chennai.

13. The Andhra Chamber of Commerce, Chennai.

14. The National Chambers of Commerce, Chennai.

15. The Indian Council of Arbitration, New Delhi.

16. The Federation of Madras Merchants & Manufacturers Association, Chennai.

The Association hosted the ICT annual meeting in the year, 1982 at Chennai when late  Mr.A .D . Parpia was unanimously elected as its Vice-President for the Asian and Australian region. After his demise late Mr.C . K . Duraivelan was elected to be the ICT Vice-President for the remaining term.

The Association coordinated the putting up of Common Effluent Treatment Plants in various tanning centres and there are 14 CETPs functioning as on date. The industry is aware of it's social obligations and the tanners are doing their best in construction and effective management of Effluent Treatment Plants. Happily there is no functional tannery in Tamil Nadu without being attached to a CETP/IETP.

The Association is owning a building in Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai. The old building was demolished in 1984 and a multi-storied new building "Leather Centre" was constructed in its place.

The Association celebrated its Platinum Jubilee impressively on 6-8-19984. The Association honoured the doyens of the leather industry and a souvenir was released on the occasion.

The Association holds regular meetings of its Executive Committee, Meetings of regional Tanners Association are convened by the Association as and when required to discuss subjects like labour, sales tax, tannery effluent disposal etc. The membership of the Association is around 400.

The Association along with the Indian Bank and other National Banks has promoted the "Indian Institute of Leather Products" a full-fledged training Institute for the leather and leather product industry.

About Industry

India is rich in Natural Resources and ranks first among high livestocks holding countries with more than 195 million cattles, 70 million buffaloes, 95 million goats and 40 million sheep. Tamil Nadu is popular for Leather and Leather products. Leather manufactured by the members of Association has a good reputation and attract many buyers from all over the world. The major markets are USA, UK, Italy and Germany.

The leather industries are almost two centuries old and the business is passed on one generation to another generation hereditarily. The existence of excellent traditional skills in tanning and finishing and manufacturing has made the Indian tanning industry self-sufficient, sustainable. Importers all over the world have keen interest for Indian leather goods. They are sourcing their requirement of leather and leather goods from India. The members of Association have achieved the ISO 1400-9001 standards. The Indian leather industry and the members of the Association are setting up modern world class production facilities to meet the growing demand of the importers of leather and leather products from all over the world.

The Association closely associates itself with the national bodies like, the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai and council for Leather Export Chennai to serve the Industry. The Leather India has established  support from CLRI, NIFT, CFTI, IILP etc.

The leather and leather products manufactured by the members of the Association are free from Pentachlorophenol, azo dyes and other banned dyes. The production of leather and leather products are free from pollution and child labour. Adoption of Occupational Safety and Health in Leather processing and Cleaner Technologies in Finishing and Process Innovation are the main objects of the members of the Association.

Resolve disputes amongs members and Importers and Exporters of Leather and Leather Products manufactures.