Since 1984, we have been dedicated to luxury leather craftsmanship in Ubrique, and over the years we have worked for great luxury houses such as Montblanc, Givenchy and Lanvin. In an interview with Oficio y Arte, our Operations Technician Jesús Moreno Sánchez explains how a family workshop got there, how our golf line was born and what we do to pass the craft on to the next generation.
The interview was conducted by Oficio y Arte, the Organisation of Spanish Artisans (OAE). Jesús is the son of one of our founding partners. Below, his answers are grouped by topic and translated from Spanish. To find out more about us, visit Know us.
*Figures at the time of the interview.
Jesús Moreno Sánchez is Operations Technician at Real Leather Studio and the son of Jesús Moreno Fernández, one of the three partners who founded the company in 1984.
Real Leather Studio was founded in 1984 by three partners with long experience in leather goods. Their goal was clear, Jesús explains: “to provide specialised services to companies in the fashion and accessories sector by manufacturing their collections of handbags, small leather goods, office items, travel goods or corporate gifts.”
Our confidentiality agreements with major brands are very strict. Even so, over the years we have manufactured, on one-off or ongoing projects, for practically every major luxury house: Montblanc, Óscar de la Renta, Courrèges, Lanvin, Givenchy, Gretchen, Elio Berhanyer and Devota & Lomba, among others.
Staying at that level in a global market is no easy task: “Achieving the right level of competitiveness and prestige takes constant creativity and innovation.”
In Jesús’s words, we are still “a family-run SME, artisanal in character but with a business vocation,” with state-of-the-art infrastructure, equipment and auxiliary machinery.
That search for new directions led us to golf. As Jesús Moreno recalls, in 1996 Real Leather Studio became the first company in the world to design and develop a range of goods and accessories for golf. The venture was endorsed a year later at the 32nd Ryder Cup, held at Valderrama Golf Club (Sotogrande, Cádiz), the first edition of the tournament ever played in continental Europe.
Since then, “we have produced merchandising and corporate gifts for Volvo Klassik, Bentley, the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the PGA Tour…” We have also personalised pieces for Easy Golf (Igel-Gesa Müller), Golf Club Am Hockenberg, Hapag-Lloyd and MS Europa Cruises.
We tell this part of our story in Real Leather Studio and Golf. You can also browse our leather golf bags and leather golf accessories.
At the time of the interview, the team had 25 people with an average age of 35 to 40, “most of them from Ubrique and familiar with the craft.” At peak times or in high season, the team grows to 40.
“We’re a full football team: from pattern makers to laser-cutting operators, which we combine with traditional hand cutting; people who paint, others who do the ‘lujado’ finish; stitchers, people who stamp, bench workers and quality control… Even so, although we’ve refined every role, everyone knows the craft and can step in for anyone else, whatever their job. It’s a relative specialisation, because everyone started at the bench, and that makes things easier.”
In Ubrique, leatherwork is a centuries-old tradition, “and in fact we always talk about artisan-artists.” See how we work in our workshop and our know-how.
For Jesús, preserving that memory is essential: “We’ve all smelled leather since we were kids and, consciously or not, we’re all captivated by the craft.”
His father, Jesús Moreno Fernández, is a good example. “He went through every level and role: from petaquero to bench worker to master craftsman; later, from bookkeeper to a particularly innovative entrepreneur. He knows the ins and outs of the craft as well as the details of management and sales.” In Ubrique, petaquero is the traditional name for those who made petacas, leather tobacco cases closely tied to the town’s leatherworking history.
That vision allowed the company to keep pace with luxury fashion: “Shortening lead times or adapting the company to the pace of the big fashion and luxury houses… even today very few workshops dare to do it. It shows that he loves the craft and wants to give it the value it deserves.”
Because going international has been part of Real Leather Studio from the very beginning. Working for luxury brands is only possible when skills match that market. “My father built the team little by little, holding the craft in higher regard than was usual. Either way, he was always clear about going international.”
He was a pioneer at trade fairs, first in Spain and later at events and showrooms in the UK, Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States. He took a different sample collection to each market, “because every culture and its customs are different.” At the time of the interview, we exported more than 80% of our production.
Ubrique stands out for its finishes and for the way it folds and stitches leather. “There are centuries-old techniques passed down from parent to child that a machine will never reproduce… Even so, training is the only guarantee for the future.”
Ubrique has a School of Leather Artisans, promoted by the Association of Fashion Accessories and Leather Companies (Empiel). At the time of the interview, the association brought together 51 workshops, including Real Leather Studio, plus two wholesalers and 11 suppliers. However, according to Jesús, the training it provides “does not guarantee future artisans with the skills required,” because our products and standards sit in the highest quality segment in Ubrique.
That is why training also happens inside our workshop: “Young people work side by side with the master craftsmen to secure our future.”
We want to be transparent about the origin of what we make:
“We neither tan nor dye the hides. We work with fully trusted Spanish suppliers, the best on the market, who understand exactly what we need.”
Find out more about our leathers in raw materials.
“We have more than 300 references in our catalogue, supplied by minimum order, with lead times depending on complexity.” Quality control takes time:
“We don’t take risks. As suppliers to companies bound by certification-agency standards, we have to meet them too; and the pieces carry exclusive logos or brand identity details.”
Today, that commitment to quality and the environment is reflected in our implementation of the ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) standards. You can read our quality and environmental policy.
We don’t only work for major brands. “We also work with designers and private clients. The problem (a blessed problem!) is available stock.” If you have a project of your own, take a look at our make-to-order service.
Besides tradition, innovation and exclusivity, “another of Real Leather Studio’s distinguishing values is the experience we’ve built up in such a select segment.” And the future is wide open:
“We’re open to other projects. Nowadays most everyday objects, not just desk items but furniture, even kitchen and bathroom pieces, can be made in leather.”
See it in our leather home accessories and leather office accessories.
Our workshop, dedicated to luxury leather craftsmanship in Ubrique (Cádiz, Spain), has been operating since 1984.
We have manufactured, on one-off or ongoing projects, for houses such as Montblanc, Óscar de la Renta, Courrèges, Lanvin, Givenchy, Gretchen, Elio Berhanyer and Devota & Lomba.
No. We neither tan nor dye: we work with trusted Spanish suppliers. Most of the leather we use, around 80%, is cowhide.
Since 1996. A year later, the range was endorsed at the 32nd Ryder Cup at Valderrama.
Yes. As well as brands, we work with designers and private clients, by minimum order and with lead times depending on the complexity of the piece. Tell us about your project.
Interview given to Oficio y Arte, the Organisation of Spanish Artisans (OAE). See more Real Leather Studio coverage in the press.
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FAQs
All of our leather products are handcrafted by our skilled artisans in Ubrique, Spain, using the finest materials and leathers available. Each item undergoes rigorous quality control checks.
Yes, every leather product we offer is handmade in our workshop in Ubrique, making each piece unique.
Our products are patented both in design and manufacturing process, and we take legal action against imitators.
At Real Leather Studio, we advocate for eco-friendly tanning. We use leathers that comply with European regulations on chemical additives. No animals are slaughtered solely for their hides; our primary material is a byproduct of the meat industry.
The leather we use most frequently is high-quality cowhide, sourced entirely from Europe.
All our leather products feature premium YKK zippers and sliders.
Generally, all products in our store are available. In the rare case that an item is out of stock, you can contact us at info@rls-art.com for more information.
At Real Leather Studio, we protect our leather goods with eco-friendly, reusable cotton bags featuring our logo.
If you’re purchasing a gift, we can include a personalized note. Just let us know at info@rls-art.com
Our customer service hours are Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM CEST.