30 June 2026
For TinTin Nilsson, APLF Hong Kong 2026 was not just a leather sourcing trip. It was a chance to understand where the materials market is moving — and what fashion brands may need next.
Tin Tin is Head of Business Development, Compliance & Business Improvement at Adiantes), a Bangkok-based OEM manufacturer specialising in leather goods and one of the largest leather goods manufacturers in Thailand. The company produces handbags, totes, backpacks, wallets and other small leather goods for clients in Japan, Europe and America.
Beyond Traditional Leather
Leather remains central to Adiantes’ business, but client demand is becoming broader. Brands are now asking manufacturers to explore not only leather, but also textiles, fabrics, recycled materials and leather alternatives.
“We are producing small leather goods,” Tin Tin explains. “That ranges anywhere from handbags, totes, backpack, wallets, but also we’re looking into other materials such as textile, fabrics — but all within the fashion space.”
This is where APLF became valuable for Adiantes. The fair gave the company a chance to compare different material categories in one place, from leather and textiles to hardware, finished goods and newer material technologies.
“A lot of our clients request leather,” he says. “But we also see a trend in new material, especially in recycled materials, GRS-certified material and also upcycling.”
A Broader Material Mix
For an OEM manufacturer, discovering a new material is only the first step. The real question is whether it can work in production. It has to be suitable for cutting, stitching, finishing and long-term product use. It also needs to meet brand expectations for quality, consistency and price.
At APLF, he saw a strong mix of traditional and emerging material solutions. The development of leather alternatives was particularly relevant. According to him, this is an area that Adiantes’ clients are already asking the company to investigate more seriously.
“So a big mix from leathers from different tanneries, but also fabric and textiles,” he says. “I saw quite a lot of interesting things within APLF, especially when it comes to new materials and upcycle materials. I’m very happy to see that there’s more developments when it comes to GRS certifications and a lot of new materials that are leather alternatives. That’s something our clients have been requesting to investigate more.”
Why APLF Matters
As this was Adiantes’ first experience at APLF, he found the event particularly valuable because it was not limited to one product category. The company could meet leather suppliers, material innovators, hardware companies and finished goods manufacturers under one roof.
“My expectations for APLF was to see and meet a lot of different suppliers,” Tin Tin says. “Not only in leather, but also in what I call more tech material, new innovations, new technologies.”
That mix helped Adiantes identify new contacts and potential partners for future client projects.
“I think it’s been a very good mix,” he adds. “We haven’t just seen raw material. We’ve seen hardware, we have seen also finished goods.”
From Visitor to Future Partner
The value of APLF is not only in seeing products. It is in meeting the right suppliers, asking technical questions and understanding which innovations can become real business opportunities.
For Tin Tin, the fair created new connections that Adiantes plans to follow up after the show.
“There’s a lot of new connections and suppliers that, at least from our side, we’re going to contact more,” he says.
He also sees potential for a deeper relationship with the fair in the future.
“We may come back as a visitor, or maybe even in the future as an exhibitor,” he says.
For Adiantes, the message from APLF Hong Kong 2026 is clear. Leather remains important, but the future of fashion manufacturing will require a wider material toolbox — one that includes leather, textiles, recycled inputs, upcycled materials and credible alternatives.
As brands look for better materials and stronger supply chain partners, manufacturers like Adiantes are no longer only making products. They are helping clients search, compare and choose the right materials for the next generation of fashion goods.
“I think it’s been a fantastic event so far,” Tin Tin says, “and looking forward to see where we take it from next year.”
