Adoberia Bella was packed on the afternoon of 6 November to pay tribute to Francesc Fontanellas and Miquel Vila for their outstanding contribution to the leather sector.

Under the title Essència de Cuir, the tribute event was a resounding success in terms of attendance and was graced by the presence of distinguished authorities, among them the mayor of Igualada, Marc Castells, and the councillors Jordi Marcè, Pere Camps, Miquel Vives and Carlota Carner, an institutional delegation from Ubrique headed by its mayor, José Mario Casillas, and, on behalf of the Ministry of Enterprise of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Alberto Pezzi, director of clusters of ACCIÓ's Business Strategy Unit.

The event was a heartfelt tribute to two leading figures of the world of leather in Igualada: Miquel Vila and Francesc Fontanellas. A well-deserved recognition of their careers and their legacy within the leather sector.

In 1993, faced with a critical situation in the Igualada leather industry, Fontanellas and Vila managed to bring everyone's efforts together and lead the sector in tackling the great challenges before it.

In his address, Bernat Vilarrubias, president of Leather Cluster Barcelona, highlighted the working philosophy of Vila and Fontanellas: "a successful partnership that pursued excellence and promoted always doing things together, putting the common good ahead of individual benefit, in the conviction that doing things well and together is the key to success."

It is precisely this way of working, driven by Fontanellas and Vila, that has marked out the path and left the leather sector an incalculable legacy: on the one hand, they promoted an environment of competitive cooperation among all the tanners that would lead to the creation of the cluster and, on the other, they led the construction of the joint water treatment plant, a facility essential to the sector's survival at that time.

Next to take the floor was Xavier Badia, president of the Gremi de Blanquers d'Igualada, president of Acexpiel and a driving force behind Leather Cluster Barcelona, who shared with everyone present his view of the essential role of the two honourees in the leather industry of Igualada and Catalonia.

One of the most moving moments of the tribute to Francesc Fontanellas and Miquel Vila was the presentation of a symbol of recognition to the two honourees.

Francesc Fontanellas's son, Fernando, on behalf of his father, and Miquel Vila himself received unique works created by the master artisan Sandra Quílez, which captivated all present with their beauty and symbolism.

These craft pieces, made with dedication and mastery by Sandra Quílez of Nquart Leather, are a distinction symbolising the legacy of Francesc Fontanellas and Miquel Vila and a testament of recognition of their vision, leadership and mark on the sector.

The mayor of Igualada, Marc Castells, closed the tribute event with heartfelt words for the honourees, highlighting the great contribution of Fontanellas and Vila to Igualada in many spheres, from sport to social, economic, cultural and historical life.

Adoberia Bella was dressed for the occasion on such a special day, and the event also invited all those present to explore leather with all their senses:

Through sight, with three large works of art by Miguel Guerrero and Anastasia Pistofidou, showing the infinite creative possibilities of leather. The leather for these figures was donated by Curtits Badia.

Through smell, thanks to the collaboration of Carner Barcelona, which presented its perfume "Cuirs", a fragrance that captures the essence of leather in the world of haute perfumery.

Through taste, with an innovative gastronomic tasting by Hidden Factory Barcelona, which, through the creativity of Xavier Morón and his team, reinterpreted the textures and sensations of leather in unique culinary creations.

And through touch, with the collaboration of the artist Jordi Ribaudí, who contributed pieces from his new collection, letting us feel the strength and delicacy of leather through design.

At Leather Cluster Barcelona we would like to thank all of you who collaborated in one way or another to make this tribute a success. We will continue working to showcase the legacy of Francesc Fontanellas and Miquel Vila and to champion the value of leather, not only as a material but as an expression of art, history, identity and prosperity for the sector and for the country.

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