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Earlier this year, CEH achieved a precedent-setting, industry-wide agreement with 28 leather footwear and glove companies, to eliminate the toxic chemical hexavalent chromium, also known as hex chrome, on the surface of the leather. CEH announced today that an additional 42 companies opted in to the agreement including Cole Haan, Dolce & Gabbana, and Manolo Blahnik (full list below).

Most leather goods are produced using a chrome-tanning process that can lead to the formation of hex chrome. People can be exposed to this cancer-causing chemical through skin contact with chrome-tanned leather goods that have not been properly processed and treated. 

Hex chrome is a toxic metal listed under California’s Proposition 65 as a known carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. Certain manufacturing protocols can be implemented by tanneries to prevent the formation of hex chrome in chrome-tanned leather. This can include adding antioxidants during the tanning process, limiting the level of fats present in the leather, limiting the use of oxidizing agents during the tanning process, monitoring pH levels during tanning, washing the leather of unfixed chrome, and maintaining monitored storage and transportation conditions based on temperature, humidity, and light conditions.

Since April 2019, CEH has issued Notices of Violation to over 100 leather footwear and glove companies alleging that they violated Prop 65 by exposing consumers to hex chrome. The legal agreement entered by the Court in February 2024 requires settling defendants to source their leather from tanneries that adhere to stringent protocols that prevent the formation of hex chrome. Alternatively, the settling defendants can achieve compliance by sourcing their leather exclusively from tanneries that have achieved a Gold rating in audits performed by the Leather Working Group (LWG), which likewise indicates that stringent protocols preventing hex chrome formation have been followed. 

The following companies opted in to CEH’s agreement:

1. Aeffe Group, Inc.
2. Allsaints USA Limited
3. All Saints Retail Limited
4. Arzz International Inc.
5. Bill Blass Group, LLC
6. Celine Inc.
7. Cels Enterprises, Inc.
8. Cole Haan LLC
9. Columbia Sportswear Company
10. Sorel Corporation
11. Mountain Hardware, Inc.
12. prAna Living, LLC
13. Columbia Brands USA, LLC
14. Dolce & Gabbana USA Inc.
15. Everlane, Inc.
16. Footwear Unlimited, Inc.
17. Highline United, LLC
18. Hugo Boss USA, Inc.
19. J. Crew Inc.
20. J. Crew Group, Inc.
21. Grace Holmes, Inc.
22. Jill Acquisition LLC
23. JR286, Inc.
24. Lafayette 148, Inc.
25. Manolo Blahnik Americas LLC
26. Marc Fisher, LLC
27. Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
28. Off-White, LLC
29. Off-White Operating Holding Corp.
30. Off-White Operating S.R.L.
31. Paul Green GmbH
32. Reef Lifestyle, LLC
33. Roger Vivier S.P.A.
34. Tod’s S.P.A.
35. Tapestry, Inc.
36. The Kooples Bloom, Inc.
37. The Kooples USA, Inc.
38. Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
39. Tory Burch LLC
40. Urban Outfitters, Inc.
41. Urban Outfitters West LLC
42. Zara USA, Inc.

1. Aldo U.S., Inc.
2. Ariat International, Inc.
3. Caleres, Inc.
4. Deckers Outdoor Corporation
5. Fitflop USA, LLC
6. Harbor Freight Tools U.S.A., Inc.
7. Central Purchasing, LLC
8. Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
9. Magnanni, Inc.
10. Mephisto, Inc.
11. Mephisto Concept Stores, Inc.
12. Nisolo LLC
13. Nordstrom, Inc.
14. Saks Incorporated (now known as SFA Holding, Inc.)
15. Saks & Company LLC
16. Saks Direct LLC
17. Shoe West, Inc.
18. Skechers U.S.A., Inc.
19. Steven Madden, LTD
20. Steven Madden Retail, Inc.
21. Valentino USA, Inc.
22. Weyco Group, Inc.
23. Designer Brands, Inc.
24. DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc.
25. Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
26. Wolverine Outdoors, Inc.
27. Sperry Top-Sider, LLC
28. Hush Puppies Retail, Inc.

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