Spain may be famed for it’s exuberant flamenco, but few know about the leather industry there. With a history spanning a few hundred centuries, Spanish leather is as rich and detailed as the material itself. Renowned for it’s craft that dates back to the Roman Empire, the town of Ubrique is Europe’s largest producer of luxury leather goods.
Ubrique and the art of luxury leather production
Located about seventy five miles from the tourist favorite city of Seville, the town sees over five thousand craftsmen employed in the trade. Also, even boasts of it’s own leather museum, Museo de la Piel de Ubrique. Not only can visitors expect a detailed demonstration of the different stages of leather production but also an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the historical craft. Unsurprisingly, Ubrique’s artisans are favoured and highly sought after by fashion houses such as Dior, Gucci, Hermès, Chanel and Loewe.
Andalusian tanneries and the origin of the saddlebag
Ubrique is popular for it’s luxury leather production. However, Córdoba is famous for it’s tanning and embossing techniques. Renowned for it`s production of high quality, Valverde de Camino`s leather boots are favoured by riders from all over the world due to their durability and luxury. Andalusian leather craftsmen stand out for their tooled leather fitting and saddlebags although the latter has declined in production over time. Footwear aficionados can expect to get their fix in the towns of Almeria, Antequera (Malaga Province) and Montoro (Cordoba Province).
Scroll to view the images and patrons of the craft below:
– Written by Soha Joshi
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