Learning Factories: Putting Companies at the Forefront of Training in the Leather Goods Sector

The European Leather Goods, or “marroquinerie”, is a traditional manufacturing sector, currently employing over 150 000 skilled workers. Nowadays, the sector finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the dual challenges of lack of training for the rapidly advancing technology and the need to preserve such “intelligence of the hand”.

The Erasmus+ Learning Factories project represents a pioneering initiative on learning by doing that places European leather goods companies at the forefront of innovation and education, and is led by the Portuguese leather goods company Belcinto.

Recently convened in the picturesque town of Ubrique, Spain – a renowned hub for leather craftsmanship – the project consortium from Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Romania, and Poland strategised on revitalising the sector. Ubrique’s rich legacy in lifestyle industry manufacturing served as an inspirational backdrop, highlighting both the tradition, creativity and innovation of the sector.

Carmen Arias, Secretary General of the European Footwear Confederation (CEC), highlighted: “We are impressed with how Ubrique’s leather goods industry has succeeded for so many decades in keeping tradition with innovation while engaging younger generations in companies. It is the right momentum to guarantee the generational change with the latest necessary skills, and with our project, we will bring back the figure of the apprentice guided by a mentor in companies. We need to preserve this savoir-faire for many more years!”

Central to the project’s mission is an efficient training methodology to enable a stronger collaboration between companies and education institutions, as well as a revolutionary curriculum designed in response to industry feedback across Europe. It encompasses four short-term curricula topics: leather goods design for circularity, artificial intelligence (AI) supporting design and pattern making, 3D printing supporting tools for industrialisation, and digital transformation of the added value manufacturing operations.

To stay updated on this transformative journey and witness firsthand how traditional craftsmanship meets modern innovation in companies, connect with us on LinkedIn and visit our website! Join us in shaping the future of European leather goods – a future where tradition meets technology, ensuring sustainability and competitiveness for generations to come.

The Learning Factories project is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.