Eighty years of associative, industrial and cultural history. With its gaze set firmly on the future. The 80th Annual General Meeting of UNIC – Italian Tanneries was held 12 June 2026 in Santa Croce sull’Arno, at Po.Te.Co., celebrating a symbolic milestone for the association, which was founded on 9 April 1946 and represents one of the most significant sectors of Made in Italy, with a value of approximately €4 billion and internationally recognised leadership in quality, innovation and environmental commitment.
During the Meeting, Alessandro Iliprandi, CEO of Bonaudo Spa, was elected President of UNIC. Bonaudo Spa is a historic Italian company specialising in the production of high-quality leather for the luxury segment. Alessandro Iliprandi is the association’s 19th President and will be supported by Vice Presidents Matteo Mastrotto of Rino Mastrotto Group, Fabrizio Nuti of Nuti Ivo Group and Gianni Russo of Russo di Casandrino.
“This is a particularly difficult time for the sector,” says Alessandro Iliprandi. “There are many challenges ahead of us, but we have vision, courage and a constant determination to improve on our side. Among the priorities of my mandate will be strengthening collaboration with our customers throughout the supply chain, achieving an even more incisive European representation, and supporting a culture of training and leather, with particular attention to younger generations and the dissemination of skills.”
The Meeting also provided an opportunity to look back over the association’s eighty years of activity through the presentation of RADICI, the historical volume produced by UNIC that recounts the evolution of Italian tanning from the post-war period to the present day. Through documents, images and testimonies, the book conveys the value of an industrial, cultural and manufacturing heritage that has accompanied, and continues to accompany, the international growth of Italian leather and has helped build the identity of the sector.
A heritage which, as outgoing President Fabrizio Nuti recalled in his end-of-mandate address, represents a strategic resource for the future: “UNIC is not only a representative body. It is also a place for discussion and growth for the sector, helping our companies to defend and enhance their production model.”
The celebration of the 80th anniversary comes at a particularly complex time for the tanning sector. In 2025, Italian tanning production recorded a decline of almost 6% in value and 4% in volume, while exports fell by 5%. The number of companies and employees also contracted, confirming that the current economic environment remains difficult.
Between memory and innovation, culture and industry, UNIC’s 80th anniversary confirms the association’s central role in representing, protecting and promoting Italian leather worldwide, while supporting companies as they face the challenges awaiting the sector in the years ahead.
Leather insiders Team extends its warmest congratulations to Alessandro Iliprandi on his election as President of UNIC – Italian Tanneries. We wish him every success in leading the Italian tanning industry through its next chapter, building on its rich heritage while addressing the opportunities and challenges of the future. We also thank outgoing President Fabrizio Nuti for his dedication and contribution to the sector during his tenure.
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