"The Toxic Price of Leather' is a short film and photo series, captured by eminent photographer and videographer Sean Gallagher, that aims to capture and convey the brutal and devastating cost of leather production in India, and the leather industry at large. The photos and video capture the harmful effects of the leather industry on people and the environment.
Much of the content seen in 'The Toxic Price of Leather' was collected and captured in the northern city of Kanpur, located in the province of Uttar Pradesh. Kanpur is India's largest producer of leather, with 95% of leather produced there destined for Western markets.
Kanpur's leather industry suffers from a lack of regulation and an obsession with minimizing costs, resulting in 50 million liters of toxic waste gushing into the city from tanneries each day. This water flows back into the community, polluting farmland and spreading illness.
Toxic Leather Photos
'The Toxic Price of Leather' Studies the Cost of India's Leather Industry
Trend Themes
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Sustainable Fashion — The toxic price of leather highlights the need for sustainable fashion practices.
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Ethical Supply Chain — The harmful effects of the leather industry on people and the environment emphasizes the importance of an ethical supply chain.
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Circular Economy — The high levels of waste produced in the leather industry raise the potential of a circular economy approach to minimize environmental impact.
Industry Implications
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Fashion — The fashion industry can adopt sustainable and ethical practices to minimize the harmful impact of the leather industry.
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Textile — The textile industry can explore alternative materials and production processes that minimize environmental damage.
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Waste Management — The leather industry's high levels of waste production create opportunities for innovation in waste management systems and circular economy solutions.