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PETA, People for ethical Treatment of Animals, an NGO is up in arms in USA against those brutally treating animals for obtaining leather. It has successfully pressurized major importing retailers in USA not to purchase from the black listed leather goods' manufacturers from third world countries. But one question, which can't be out of place to ask is why is the leather goods' popularity increasing steadily?

The Big Question of Popularity
Just these two factors decide whether leather goods continue to enjoy the same popularity like it did all these years or not. First, it is the global population outbreak and then it is the fast paced, equitable economic growth rate in Asian countries.

No matter how small they are, footwear since pre historic age has been manufactured in leather. Just think of all those 6 billion pair of feet to be protected year after year. This alone will count for a mind boggling 30% of the leather consumption.

Fashion accessories have changed to leather made goods for Asian affluent of late what with their respective economies showing strong growth rates. One survey by industry leading consulting firm puts the figure very tantalizingly high. Even a meager 2-3% increased affinity for leather goods from Asia will translate to about 8-10% of entire consumption of USA. Then there are industry councils and promotion boards, which promote leather as alternate to non-biodegradable synthetic materials at every opportunity. Forget the economy for a while; leather goods are fashion symbols.

Leather Goods: Fashion and Status Symbols
Blame it on Paris. Women are spoilt clearly for choice when it is handbags and shoes. At every end of the summer, designers break their heads to come out with new and cracking designs for women in all splendors. Designer handbags are the talk of the towns every season. Men, though have not too much choice to make, just fall back upon leather for wallets, shoes, waist belts, riding and golfing gloves etc. But mind you this is not small at all, considering the number of companies engaged in men's accessories the world over. But what beats the volume when it comes to men's leather choice is the leather upholstery for household furniture and their status symbol cars.

Leather Accessories in Brief

This is an endless list even if you were to consider just the women's accessories. However here is a brief picture.

1. Wallets and card cases
2. Wristlets
3. Cosmetic cases
4. Shoes/hats/belts
5. Outer wear
6. Cell phone accessories etc. for women
7. Brief cases/portfolios/messengers
8. Totes/travel bags/ID Lanyards etc for men.