The british leather manufacturers' research association (blmra) is concerned with modern leather manufacture; leather conservation is a very limited sphere of interest, but research carried out may have some bearing on the subject. There is a close working relationship with tanners. Research is carried out in three areas: technical enquiries over the origin of faults (i.e. Skin, processing, manufacture or after-treatment of leather goods); new materials for use during manufacture; and major long-term projects of fundamental interest. Equipment available includes microscopy, sem, electrophoresis, glc, ir and aa analyses. There is a model tannery. There are no funds at all for conservation studies. The leather conservation centre (lcc) is described.