Despite a long held perception that leather and allied manufacturing served primarily functional purposes, increased visibility of various fashion industries has reshaped those beliefs and extended the boundaries of the industry's reach. In fact, because of low labor costs associated with foreign imports, industry success and profitability ultimately depend on the ability to alter goods and services to suit new trends. In this mature industry, competition becomes more of a challenge and drives the need for innovative and highly differentiated products. As foreign competitors further penetrate the market, increased marketing efforts and reputable brand imaging are becoming increasingly important.