The 13th edition of Craft the Leather, an experiential training programme for emerging design and craftsmanship talent, took place in San Miniato, Italy, on May 18, bringing together eight international designers to explore the future of vegetable-tanned leather.
Organised by the Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale and coordinated by Diane Ellen Becker, the workshop gave young designers the opportunity to discover how vegetable-tanned leather is produced in the Tuscan Leather District and explore its distinctive characteristics through dialogue with master tanners and leather craftspeople. The programme aims to combine manufacturing tradition, innovation and sustainability in material-focused design.
The invitation-only initiative included eight fashion, design and craft schools from Europe and China, with each institution sending one student and one mentor to represent its design philosophy.
The project is divided into three phases. The first ran from May 18-23, 2026, which saw participants take part in training workshops, company visits, expert meetings and hands-on experimentation in the Tuscan Leather District. A second phase gives participants six months to develop capsule collections using vegetable-tanned leather supplied by consortium members, before the final collections will be exhibited at Lineapelle Milano in February 2027, where they will be judged by experts and visitors. A scholarship will be awarded to the winner.
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