Chennai’s India International Leather Fair showcases 2026’s trends: Corsets, athleisure and cowboy chic

Be it biker chic, rock, punk, oregon atrocious lad aesthetics, leather has ever been a staple. But implicit the years, leather has moved beyond conscionable jackets, bags and shoes. Now, they look arsenic elegant outfits, embellished corsets, pencil and fishtail skirts, and arsenic trimming details. This year’s International Leather Fair successful Chennai highlighted the material’s potential.

Held from February 1 to 3, the India International Leather Fair (IILF) launched with a manner amusement astatine the ITC Grand Chola. The just draws buyers from crossed the world. Private labels and sourcing agents usage it to spot orders and place manufacturers crossed the State, which makes this an particularly important amusement for the industry.

Organised by Indian’s Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) astatine the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, this is said to beryllium Asia’s largest leather show.

The manner amusement featured implicit 70 models and 14 showstoppers — models specified arsenic Manika Vishwakarma (Miss Universe India 2025), Ayushree Malik (Miss Supranational India 2025), Madhuram Daga (Rubaru Mr India International 2025) walked the ramp. About 13 labels exhibited their collections. The garments, accessories, and footwear displayed a affluent spectrum of textures, styles and silhouettes caller from the satellite of leather. The showcase unveiled a broad leather manner postulation spanning men’s, women’s, and children’s wear.

“This amusement brings unneurotic the latest leather trends, colours, and textures, giving buyers a wide presumption of collections that are acceptable for business. We wanted to springiness the influencers an accidental to spot the products earlier reporting backmost to their companies,” said Yavar Dhala, co-convenor of the manner show.

Leather apparel was each the rage this year. Brands similar Perf reimagined leather arsenic an mundane staple by integrating leather successful athleisure and nonrecreational wear, on with accessories specified arsenic gym bags; portion Central Leather Research Institute showcased leather garments (think bodycon dresses) and bags.

The conception by Ramjee Leathers and Supplies was inspired by the Wild Wild West with bold manner guardant pieces featuring cowboy hats, tasselled bags, and fringe vests. FDDI (Footwear Design & Development Institute) incorporated bling into their postulation with rhinestone embedded jackets, and sculpted leather trench coats.

“This amusement carries a almighty bequest and plays a captious relation successful bringing India’s mostly unorganised leather manufacture together. With planetary designers showcasing successful India, it opens the marketplace internationally and I’m arrogant to enactment specified a meaningful initiative,” said Manika Vishwakarma, Miss Universe India 2025, who sported a brownish leather corset.

Talking astir what it takes to plan a amusement of this stature, Bhaskaran Chandra Shekhar, the manager of the manner show, says, “Each locomotion is built astir a brand’s DNA, its USP, its story, and however its leather craftsmanship speaks to an adept audience. In a constricted time, we wanted to make stories that showcase leather arsenic versatile, wearable, and design-driven.”