Clothing, shoes and accessories in fish-leather could be the height of fashion in the 21st century. "More and more fashion houses are showing an interest in fish-leather," says Susanne Bergholtz, joint owner of Sea Skin Scandinavia, Sweden's only tannery for salmon leather. According to the company, fish-leather is as exclusive as lizard, snake and other exotic leathers, making it an excellent material for the clothing and shoe industries. The leather is strong and attractive, easy to produce and it doesn't smell of fish. Finnish fashion designers and Swedish shoe manufacturers have already taken the new material on board.

The salmon leather was recently shown at one of the world's largest leather trade fairs, the Lineapelle fair in the Italian city of Bologna. Several companies who import and produce leather, some for leading French fashion houses, showed great interest.
"Italian TV reported from the leather fair and highlighted fish-leather as a new and exotic leather with great potential," explains Bergholtz. "Clothing, shoes, accessories, car upholstery and furniture are just some of its uses."
Sea Skin has conducted market research in several European countries and market potential appears to be good, with Asia also showing major interest.

Better use of natural resources
The Swedish tannery will principally be focusing on producing salmon leather. At a later date leather may also be produced from cod and wolf fish. By using fish-skins, the company will be helping to make better use of natural resources and reduce the use of skins from animals under threat of extinction.
"My colleague Ingela Andersson had the idea while working at the smokehouse of Strannes Rökeri AB," Bergholtz relates. "The fish skins were consigned to the scrap heap or at best made into mink food. This was a waste of a marvellous raw material, so we decided to start up a tannery together.

Material of the future
The Finnish company Fero Design has designed specially commissioned skirts and jackets in fish-leather, mostly from burbot and Nile perch.
"It's a great alternative to crocodile and snake," says Yvonne Eriksson, designer at Fero. "Fish-leather gives a more living and elegant impression than traditional leather and is at least as strong. It therefore has every chance of attaining the same status as crocodile and snake as a material for fashion-conscious consumers who demand high quality."
Göte Kellgren helps manufacturers of exclusive shoes to market their products, including shoes made from salmon and wolf fish leather.
"The leather, particularly from the wolf fish, is very hard-wearing and has a beautiful and varied pattern," says Kellgren, who runs the company Ellgre Komfortskor outside Göteborg on the west coast of Sweden. His customers use fish-leather as an outer material for clogs, men's and women's sandals and women's walking shoes.

Caption: By using fish-skins, the company will be helping to make better use of natural resources and reduce the use of skins from animals under threat of extinction.

For further information contact:
Susanne Bergholtz, head of marketing
Sea Skin Scandinavia AB
Box 4, SE-456 21 Kungshamn
Tel: +46 (0)523 708 08. Fax: +46 (0)523 708 10
E-mail: info@seaskin.com
Website: www.seaskin.com
Photos can be obtained at the above address.