As part of the Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Vietnam 2026 competition, our Vietnam team has been giving emerging designers a firsthand look at where great leather actually comes from.
Competition finalists have visited three of this year’s leather sponsors — ISA TanTec, Simona Tanning, and Prime Asia Tannery — to gain insight into the craftsmanship and technology that go into every hide before it ever reaches a design table.
Inside ISA TanTec: the LITE model
Finalists kicked off their sponsor tours with a visit to ISA TanTec, part of ISA Next-Gen Materials and the official leather sponsor of RLSD Vietnam 2026. There, designers saw tanning processes operating under ISA TanTec’s LITE (Low Impact To the Environment) green production model, and explored how premium leather is made and used in contemporary fashion design.
Thanks to ISA TanTec’s generous provision of premium materials, finalists were able to turn their design concepts into finished creations. A real illustration of how responsibly produced leather can inspire genuine sustainable innovation.
Learn more about ISA TanTec at liteleather.com.
Simona Tanning: From raw material to premium leather
Contestants from the Hanoi region were welcomed to Simona Tanning, another of this year’s leather sponsors. The visit offered a close-up look at modern leather production and quality control, along with the chance to explore the diverse textures, colours and characteristics that premium leather can offer.
Designers also heard directly from industry experts about what it takes to move a concept from initial idea to sale-ready piece — invaluable knowledge for finalists refining their designs.
Learn more about Simona Tanning at simonatanning.com.
Prime Asia Tannery: Following leather from hide to finish
In the third visit, the top ten finalists, joined by mentors, judges and partners, went behind the scenes at Prime Asia Tannery for an exclusive tour. The group followed the full leather-making journey, from raw hides through to finished material, while learning about the craftsmanship, innovation,and technical expertise involved at every stage.
Industry professionals shared insights into leather’s performance characteristics and applications, giving finalists fresh inspiration before they put the finishing touches to their designs ahead of the competition.
Learn more about Prime Asia Tannery at primeasialeather.com.
Building the next generation of leather designers
Each of these visits reflects what RLSD Vietnam 2026 is all about — connecting emerging design talent with the people and processes behind real, responsibly made leather. From sustainable tanning innovation at ISA TanTec, to hands-on production insight at Simona Tanning, to the complete hide-to-finish journey at Prime Asia Tannery, finalists left each visit with a deeper understanding of the material and a stronger foundation of knowledge to build their designs on.–
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