This space has been conceived to become a benchmark centre for training in leather goods, prototyping and leather fashion accessories.

The official opening of the academic year of the leather design programme took place at the new facilities of the Neo-craftsmanship workshop, with the visit of several Louis Vuitton executives interested in building alliances with this training project.

The Minister for Enterprise and Labour, Miquel Sámper, opened the new Leather Craftsmanship workshop of the municipal school of art and design “La Gaspar” this Friday 11 October. These new facilities, located on the ground floor of the La Gaspar building, are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery like that used by the luxury brands that work with the quality leather tanned in Igualada. The school's new facilities are a benchmark centre in leather goods, prototyping and design that has the support of companies in order to train the professional profiles that are most needed.

To set up this space, high-technology digitalised machines have been purchased that allow students to learn with modern, advanced tools. In addition, computer-aided design programmes have been implemented to train students in the skills needed to work in the leather goods sector. The school has also established collaborations with companies in the luxury sector to offer work placements, thus ensuring that students gain experience in the use of digitalised machinery in real working environments.

Minister Sámper, accompanied by several members of Igualada Town Council and a very good representation of members of Leather Cluster Barcelona, visited this space and highlighted “the importance of this initiative that takes forward the new Leather Neo-craftsmanship project in Igualada”. The minister stressed that “this centre is an example of success, of success for the country and for the area, showing that things work when there is collaboration between administrations and between administrations and the private sector”.

Along the same lines, Marc Castells thanked the school's management for its work, as it “maintains constant contact with the leather and leather goods companies in order to know what the market's training and research needs are”. Castells explained that “this new workshop is a commitment to the future, which continues to make real the wish to keep dignifying and specialising leather studies in Igualada so as to be at the forefront alongside companies”. In this way, for the mayor of Igualada this commitment allows Igualada “to be experts in the whole process: from the tanning of the hide to leather goods, in order to make accessories like those made here at La Gaspar”.

Raquel Camacho, director of La Gaspar, thanked the Ministry of Culture and Igualada Town Council for their support, the latter having invested 180,000€ to make it a reality.

Camacho highlighted “the work and the close collaboration with companies, especially with Louis Vuitton, which have helped to adapt the needs of the different professional profiles that the company requires in order to be able to hire qualified workers of excellence”. Louis Vuitton has provided advice both on the machinery needed to create a workshop suited to current needs and on technical training. They have collaborated actively in the classroom, contributing knowledge in design, pattern making, modelling and prototyping. Camacho added that “we have carried out technical training for the teaching staff at their facilities, with the aim of aligning the teaching programmes with the reality of the company”.

Louis Vuitton's interest in building alliances with La Gaspar's training project was made clear by the presence of a delegation of the company's executives at the official opening of the leather design programme, which took place on 18 October.

The Louis Vuitton delegation, headed by Paulo Sa, the brand's director of product development and sourcing, was able to see at close hand the training given in this leather design pathway at La Gaspar, where they were able to talk with the management, teaching staff and students.

In his remarks, Paulo Sa highlighted the “talent and the centuries-old tradition that have given great knowledge and quality to leather work in the city”. “This legacy is now complemented by the commitment to innovation and to knowledge that are making an industry of great quality and industrial renown evolve”.

At the official opening of the academic year, the mayor of Igualada highlighted “the training dimension of this leather pathway, which has the support of companies, a winning combination that allows us to train the professionals that companies are asking for so that we can continue to be at the forefront of this industry”.

The director of La Gaspar, Raquel Camacho, wished to stress that “this project of excellence offers studies that are unique in the country, with a constant relationship with business so that students have a profile adapted to the needs of today's market, innovative, of high quality and of great importance for design”.

La Gaspar of Igualada is committed to an ambitious growth project that seeks to position it as a national and international benchmark in the field of Leather Neo-craftsmanship, with a clear focus on professional training aimed at educating students who can join the labour market quickly. The methodology fosters skills in design, prototyping and leather production, creating professionals capable of meeting the sector's needs.

With these objectives in mind, an innovative programme has been created, starting with the implementation of the Higher Level Programme in Leather Techniques. This programme has been developed from scratch, designed specifically to offer a curriculum adapted to the needs of today's market. In addition, the collaboration with renowned companies, especially with Louis Vuitton, makes it possible to guarantee quality training that combines theory and practice, giving students a comprehensive view of the creative and production process.

Leather Cluster Barcelona supports La Gaspar's leather design studies in the conviction that the commitment to neo-craftsmanship strengthens the cluster's business cooperation ecosystem, boosts the leather sector and prepares students to face the challenges of today's creative industry.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is an environment of competitive cooperation for promoting cross-cutting, transformative strategic projects with the aim of driving the ecosystem of the Catalan leather sector within the framework of Shared Value policies. The cluster is an entity accredited under the Catalonia Clusters programme and is supported by Acció.