EXHIBIT 99.1

   United States Leather Inc.
   1403 West Bruce Street
   Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   For More Information Call
   Linda Stephenson (414) 273-4680


            UNITED STATES LEATHER, INC. REACHES AGREEMENT WITH MAJOR
            BONDHOLDERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY DELEVERAGE ITS BALANCE SHEET

                  Expects Quick Approval of Restructuring Plan

        MILWAUKEE, WI, (March 25, 1998)...United States Leather Inc. (USL)
   announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle with its
   stockholders and an informal committee of bondholders on a plan to
   deleverage USL's balance sheet.  Under the terms of the plan, USL's
   employees and trade creditors will be paid in full and all of the
   approximately $138 million of principal and accrued interest owing in
   respect of the company's 10-1/4% Senior Notes due 2003 will be converted
   into 97% of the equity of USL.  USL's existing stockholder will retain 
   3% of the restructured company.

        "The agreement in principle represents a major step towards achieving
   the plan to delverage the company's balance sheet that was proposed to
   bondholders last September," said 

                                     -more-
   

   Anthony Biancanello, President and Chief Executive Officer of USL.  "Once
   the restructuring is completed, USL will emerge as a stronger, more stable
   company, better able to serve its customers and return to the
   profitability it historically enjoyed."  According to Biancanello, "the
   informal committee of bondholders reports that the holders of more than
   50% of the outstanding Senior Notes have already expressed support for the
   proposed plan."  Additionally, BankAmerica Business Credit, agent for a
   syndicate of lenders, is supporting the company in its reorganization
   process.

        Biancanello announced that USL will commence a solicitation of its
   stockholders and of its bondholders of record as of March 27, 1998 to
   obtain formal approval of the plan.  "Upon obtaining the requisite
   approvals from the holders of the company's bonds and stock, the company
   expects to file a prepackaged Chapter 11 plan to implement the
   restructuring.  A prepackaged bankruptcy proceeding will allow the company
   to convert its bonds into equity and emerge with a clean balance sheet and
   positive shareholders' equity with minimal disruption to the company's
   business operations," he said.  USL indicated the solicitation period is
   expected to begin next week and to take approximately 45 days to complete. 
   It further indicated that it expects to emerge from the proceedings during
   the third quarter.

        USL makes and markets finished leathers for footwear, furniture and
   automotive manufacturers.  The company currently has 1800 employees and
   manufacturing operations that include Pfister & Vogel and A.L. Gebhardt in
   Milwaukee, Lackawanna Leather in Conover, NC and Omaha, NE, A.R. Clarke in
   Toronto, Canada, Caldwell Moser in New Albany, IN and other operations in
   Berlin, WI.