It is a supply chain that has grown without directing nor targeted industrial policies, driven by the major fashion brands that have understood the importance of ensuring strategic “know-how” for collections and turnover, such as that historically present in the area.
Today the Tuscan leather supply chain – made up of 6,400 tanning-leather-footwear companies concentrated between Florence, the Arezzo Valdarno and the Pisan one with extensions in Pistoia-Lucca – is a worldwide unique specialist in the high-end range, which exports a large part of the production and it is one of the (rare) cases in which the craftsmanship tradition has been handed down and adapted to the times.
The latest numbers are mind-boggling: in 2019 the Tuscan leather industry went from almost six to just under eight billion exports, equal to eight times that of the famous Tuscan wine. The item “leather goods” in the last year has marked a 33% increase: it is the fastest growing industrial sector, driven by bags and small leather goods (wallets, key rings, belts). And it is a sector that attracts investments from all over the world, as demonstrated by the operations that have recently taken place: LVMH, Kering, Richemont , Investment funds ensure investments for hundreds of millions on the territory to keep the excellence of the Tuscan manufacturing as tanneries, leather goods facilities, footwear factories, no problem on spending huge amounts of money to achieve strategic goal to be present in the district.
The big brands bring inside productions previously made by subcontractors. “To control the supply chain and meet ever faster market demands”,.
“Because here there is an abundance of know-how and skills handed down over time that are needed to develop our brands”, explain the top managers.
However, the international geopolitical scenario is complicated and the risk is that the production volumes of Tuscan leather goods will drop. Especially after the COVID emergency, in this case the first to be penalized will be the subcontractors who have made the big brands grow in recent years but depend on them.
Anyway the district has the strength and competence to withstand even the great storms thanks also to the new innovative brands such as LAB Firenze which are precious for the continuation of the tradition especially with innovation and creativity that designers like Federico Massacesi can give.