During Donald Trump’s first term as president, the so-called trade war resulted in a gradual increase in tariffs on many products imported from China, eventually from 6% to 31%. This radical 25% increase prevented China from becoming a center of attraction.
One of the most prestigious fairs in the leather industry, APLF, was held in Hong Kong, which has become the meeting point of the East and the West, after a long break. One of the most important fairs that the world leather industry follows closely and manufacturers do not hesitate to participate in is APLF Hong Kong.
The fair, which could not be held in Hong Kong for many years due to the onset of the pandemic, was completed this year at its own address and within its own date range with the participation of the leading companies of the sector.
APLF Hong Kong is the fair where we can get the clearest information about the markets. It provides information about the number of participants, the quality of visitors, the visit of the Hong Kong offices of the brands to the fair and what the sector will bring to us. In this case, the leather sector can shape its investment plans, purchases and the roadmaps it will follow during the year after this fair.
2025 is a year with many question marks for manufacturers. Leather companies planning raw material and chemical purchases had postponed their action purchases until after the APLF. The APLF has been effective in both seeing whether the markets will accelerate and in drawing up a reliable roadmap by consulting with different customer groups.
In this article, we will be evaluating the results of APLF Hong Kong 2025.
- APLF Hong Kong 2025 Participating Companies
- APLF Hong Kong 2025 Visitor Quality
- APLF Hong Kong 2025 Best Collection Awards
APLF Hong Kong 2025 Participating Companies
Leather manufacturers from Italy, France, Brazil, Spain, China, India and other countries, especially Turkish companies, were enough to fill both main halls of the fair. Although there was a slight decrease in the number of participants compared to before the pandemic, APLF Hong Kong is an organization that managed the post-pandemic process well.
Before the pandemic, the companies located in the main hall on the ground floor were divided into two separate halls and moved to the upper floors after the pandemic. However, seeing some disconnections, APLF officials decided to move the 2026 fair to the main hall at the entrance, as it was before the pandemic.
Among the leather manufacturers participating in the fair, there were both the leading companies in the sector and young manufacturers who had just entered the export market.
APLF continues to be a structure that can maintain its staff and tries to carry out its organization with the excitement of the first day. The organizer company evaluates the actions that can be taken day by day in order to keep the quality of the fair at a high level and organizes surveys with participating companies. It is predicted that APLF will reach its pre-pandemic audience again in 2026.
APLF Hong Kong 2025 Visitor Quality
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, APLF had undertaken the task of being the intersection of the East and the West for many years. To summarize for those who have forgotten or do not know; the offices where American companies managed their production in China were located in Hong Kong and projects were managed through Hong Kong.
During Donald Trump’s first term as president, the so-called trade war resulted in a gradual increase in tariffs on many products imported from China, eventually from 6% to 31%. This radical 25% increase prevented China from becoming a center of attraction.
This additional 25% tax was not an amount that American brands could manage. Many American brands had decided to move their production from China to Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Turkey, the island countries and North African countries. Of course, there were companies that continued to produce in China, but either their numbers decreased or their production capacity decreased significantly with this process.
After the process we summarized above, many brands decided to close their Hong Kong offices, and agencies, management offices and merchants providing service to manufacturers in China withdrew from Hong Kong over time. All these developments led to changes in the visitor profile of APLF. The positive development was the increasing demand from manufacturers serving China’s domestic market and their need to visit APLF Hong Kong in line with these demands.
APLF Hong Kong 2025 Best Collection Awards
APLF Hong Kong has also been hosting a competition for many years. In this event, which aims to preserve the dynamic structure of the fair, participating companies deliver the product groups they have determined from their collections to the organization’s management center on the first day of the fair. They also add a text telling the story of the product. These delivered product groups are also examined by a design team. On the day of the fair, the designer team visits the stands of the target participants and votes on the originality of the collection, color choices, whether the products include rapidly changing fashion conditions, whether they contain different production techniques, and a selection is made from the participating companies under titles such as the best leather collection of the fair, the best sustainable-environmentally friendly leather collection, and the best fur collection.
Receiving such an award at such a distinguished fair provides companies with a contribution beyond the many advertising, promotion and marketing processes that can be carried out.
Ege Damla Deri is chosen as the company that deserves to receive the Best Leather Collection Award within the 2025 awards. Being able to receive such a valuable award and being able to take on the role of a leading company that directs the sector is a situation that should be appreciated. Of course, awards are a reward for determination and hard work and things that increase the motivation of companies in their work.
Another Turkish company that has the chance to receive the best fur collection award is Alpaka Deri. It is very valuable that these awards come to Turkish companies in both the leather and fur groups. Considering that the sector is going through a difficult process, this good news will give everyone a little hope.
