Mission
Our reason for being
To unite, coordinate and lead the efforts of every player in the value chain in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the leather sector through innovation and international presence.
THE CLUSTER
The Catalan Leather Cluster
An intelligent ecosystem of innovation, sustainability and knowledge with a European reach
THE ORGANISATION
Leading the transformation of the leather sector
Leather Clúster Barcelona is a private, non-profit association that structures, represents and promotes the Catalan leather ecosystem on an international scale.
The organisation brings together, within a single strategic structure, tanneries, specialist chemical companies, fashion houses, research centres and leading educational and cultural institutions, placing the expertise and legacy of a historic craft at the forefront of the global market.
As a corporate body, the association acts as the unified voice of a highly export-oriented industry that generates economic and social value. It has established itself as a benchmark for cluster management in Europe and as the key driver of the sector’s development, competitiveness and international presence.
THE CLUSTER IN ACTION
Cooperating through a shared structure
Without governance there is no cluster: trust is the foundation on which our entire model is built.
The cluster manages a network of 78 members (companies from across the value chain, knowledge centres and institutions) who share collective infrastructure, knowledge transfer and transformative projects, and it fosters business, educational, scientific and commercial collaboration among them all.
This activity is structured through a collaborative governance model. A professional team drives the cluster’s strategy and develops its projects, while the Board of Directors, made up of representatives of every member profile, approves its decisions and ensures they remain aligned with the common interest of the sector.
COMPANIES
across the entire value chain
TURNOVER
M €
in aggregate turnover
SOCIAL VALUE
direct jobs
TRAJECTORY
An overview with dates, causes and outcomes
How we have evolved from a traditional sector into a structured and replicable model of cooperation.
1993 — Awareness
Origins: crisis and awareness
In the 1990s, and particularly around 1993, the sector entered a period of crisis.
Situation
- Commodity product
- Price-based competition
- Loss of competitiveness
- International pressure and environmental regulation
Driver of change
Accession to the European Community and growing international competition
What happens?
The sector realises that its model no longer works.
Initial outcomes
- Emergence of leadership
- Involvement of key players (business, government, university)
- First collaborative initiatives
MISSION, VISION AND OBJECTIVES
A shared purpose for the entire value chain
Vision
Our horizon
To become a leading hub in the leather sector, recognised for the excellence of its quality, its knowledge and its commitment to sustainability.
Objectives
How we turn strategy into reality
By promoting collaborative projects that generate tangible value for members and a real impact on the sector as a whole.
Our strategic axes
- Value Chain
- Sustainability
- Innovation
- People
- Identity
- International Reach
