15.12.2025 19:30
Musa Evin, who was a guest of presenter Gökay Kalaycıoğlu on the Haberler.com YouTube channel, stated that Turkey is a global leader in the leather industry. Emphasizing that leather and fur are no longer a luxury, Evin noted that the industry does not slaughter animals, but rather uses the skins of animals that are killed for their meat. His most important warning was about petroleum-based products that resemble leather and fur, as he cautioned that many of these products carry a risk of being carcinogenic.
On the News.com YouTube channel, Luigi's Board Chairman Musa Evin provided very important information about the leather industry while also making warnings that should be taken into consideration during his conversation with host Gökay Kalaycıoğlu.
TURKEY IS LEADING THE SECTOR
Stating that Turkey is among the leading countries in the leather industry worldwide, Evin expressed that Zeytinburnu is the center in this field. He noted that the sector, which exports significant amounts, is one of the rare sectors that generates a current account surplus.
"WE DO NOT SLAUGHTER ANIMALS"
Musa Evin emphasized that leather and fur have ceased to be luxuries in today's conditions, stating that the sector does not slaughter animals, but produces leather and fur by utilizing animal waste, using the skins of animals that are slaughtered for their meat.
Evin said, "I am an animal lover too. If we do not use the skins of animals that are slaughtered for their meat and leave them in nature, nature will struggle for hundreds of years to clean it up. Are we not going to use the leather after eating the meat? Leather has been used since the dawn of humanity, and fur has been used as well. It has been used for shelter and clothing, sails have been made from leather, and it has been written on when there was no paper. Leather is present in every aspect of life. Now, when a lamb is slaughtered, we make winter jackets from its fur. We do not slaughter animals. We turn the materials we receive into jackets," he stated.
CANCER WARNING
Luigi's Board Chairman Musa Evin also made very important warnings in his statements. Emphasizing that imitation products pose a great danger, Musa Evin noted that there are petroleum-based products that look like leather and fur, many of which are carcinogenic. Evin said, "I emphasize this repeatedly. They are making jackets, pants, and shoes for people by combining petroleum substitutes with chemicals. Many of them are carcinogenic. Are we going to use carcinogenic substances instead of natural ones? When we abandon the natural and switch to artificial imitation, people put their own health at risk. Leather is health. It can be used for many years," he said.
"EVEN WE CANNOT TELL THE FAKE"
Musa Evin also answered the question of how to distinguish between artificial and genuine leather. Evin stated, "The imitation of leather is so well done that many of us cannot tell whether it is artificial after it is sewn," and added, "They say it can be understood if burned with a lighter, but believe me, they even make it to that extent. They write 'artificial' in tiny letters and 'leather' in big letters on the product. Consumers are misled by the term leather, but after a year, it starts to peel off. The consumer says, 'I bought leather,' but in fact, they bought a petroleum substitute," emphasizing that it is difficult to distinguish fake leather.