History of Leather and Footwear

Workers in the process of cutting shoe cuts. Honorable mention in the “Representative Photography Contest of the Footwear Industry”. Credit: Emilio Jurado Leppe

The Leather and Footwear industry in León has more than 400 years of history. An administrative document found in the Municipal Historical Archive of León reports the existence of the shoemaker’s trade in 1608. Since cattle raising began in what was known as Valle de Señora, the first tanners appeared to manufacture leather accessories for animals loading. Throughout the centuries, León has specialized in the work of the tannery and the manufacture of footwear, concentrating today 70% of the national production and representing 40% of the GDP of the city. Walking the PiCaSo Route, you will discover the exciting history of our legendary industry and why León is known as the “World Capital of Leather and Footwear.”