Igualada and Ubrique share much more than a tradition linked to leather. They share a history built over generations around knowledge, craftsmanship, industry and the work of leather.
In May 2026, this connection took another step forward with the formalisation of the twinning between Igualada and Ubrique, two cities representing two closely connected links in the leather value chain.
The meeting took place as part of the third edition of Bajo la Piel, an event that celebrates the know-how of Ubrique and its leather goods tradition. For Curtidos Badia, it was also a particularly meaningful occasion: Xavier Badia received the Patacabra de Honor distinction, recognising his career and his relationship with Ubrique spanning more than three decades.
Igualada and Ubrique: a connection built around leather
Talking about Igualada and Ubrique means talking about two territories with a strong industrial identity rooted in leather.
Igualada has a centuries-old tanning tradition. The Igualada Leather Museum documents the development of this activity, from early pre-industrial facilities to industrialisation, particularly around the Rec district. The city’s heritage preserves the history of an activity that has played a fundamental role in its economic and social development.
Ubrique, meanwhile, has become one of the leading references in Spanish leather goods manufacturing, with a highly specialised ecosystem dedicated to leather articles and craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation.
These are two different areas of expertise, but they are deeply connected.
A high-quality hide can become, in the hands of specialised professionals, a handbag, wallet, accessory or countless other leather goods.
That is why the relationship between Igualada and Ubrique goes far beyond professional proximity: it is a relationship built around materials, knowledge and the people who work with them.
The leather industry as a meeting point
Curtidos Badia’s history is closely linked to that of Igualada.
Founded in 1889, the company is part of the city’s historic leather industry ecosystem. The leather cluster in Igualada has historical roots dating back to the 14th century. Over more than a century, Curtidos Badia has evolved by combining experience, technology and continuous improvement.
This history helps explain why events such as the twinning between Igualada and Ubrique hold such significance for the sector.
Leather connects territories.
It connects companies.
It connects professionals.
And, above all, it connects generations.
From tanning in Igualada to leather goods in Ubrique
The leather value chain is made up of different professionals and areas of expertise.
In Igualada, the tradition is particularly associated with leather tanning and processing. Over centuries, the city has developed specialised knowledge around the processes required to transform hides into materials with the properties needed for different applications.
In Ubrique, this material is part of a globally recognised leather goods tradition. Craftsmanship, knowledge of materials and professional expertise have made the town an international reference for leather goods.
This is where the two realities meet.
Leather travels. Knowledge travels too.
And for decades, professionals and companies from Igualada and Ubrique have built relationships based on this connection.
Curtidos Badia and Ubrique: more than three decades of connection
Curtidos Badia’s relationship with Ubrique did not begin with the 2026 twinning.
It is a relationship built over decades.
The connection between Xavier Badia and Ubrique spans more than 30 years and forms part of a broader relationship between Igualada’s leather industry and Ubrique’s leather goods sector.
That is why the Patacabra de Honor distinction awarded to Xavier Badia during Bajo la Piel has a meaning that goes beyond individual recognition.
It represents a shared history.
A history shaped by companies, craftsmen, technicians, designers, manufacturers, traders and professionals who have worked for generations to keep leather culture alive.
What does the Patacabra represent in Ubrique’s tradition?
The patacabra is one of the traditional tools associated with the leather goods trade in Ubrique.
Its presence forms part of the professional language and heritage of an industry in which hand tools and craftsmanship continue to play an important role.
Giving the distinction this name makes the recognition particularly symbolic: the tool represents the craft, and the craft represents all the people who have built this industry.
Bajo la Piel: tradition, innovation and the future
The third edition of Bajo la Piel, held in Ubrique in May 2026, highlighted both the heritage and the future of the leather industry.
The event brought together workshops, conferences, exhibitions, cultural activities and initiatives related to leather goods, fashion and Ubrique’s know-how. In this edition, the twinning with Igualada played a particularly prominent role.
The message is relevant to the entire sector:
tradition does not mean remaining in the past.
The leather industry has continually evolved and will continue to do so. New technologies, more efficient processes, traceability requirements, innovations in finishing and growing attention to sustainability are transforming the sector.
But the knowledge accumulated over generations remains a fundamental part of that evolution.
Leather: a material connecting past and future
At Curtidos Badia, we understand leather as a material that combines tradition, technical expertise and innovation.
Our work begins long before a hide becomes a finished product. The tanning process involves different stages, from preparation and tanning to retanning, finishing and final quality control.
Each stage influences the material’s characteristics and performance.
And behind every stage there are people.
People who understand the raw material, recognise its possibilities and know how to work with it to meet the needs of sectors such as fashion, leather goods and luxury.
Igualada and Ubrique: a relationship with a future
The twinning between Igualada and Ubrique formally recognises a connection that the leather industry has known for decades.
Two territories.
Two traditions.
Two areas of expertise.
And one material capable of creating links between them.
For Curtidos Badia, being part of this moment also means recognising all the people who have contributed to our history and to that of Igualada’s leather industry.
Because behind every hide there is a story.
Behind every leather article there is knowledge.
And behind every territory there are generations of professionals who have made it possible for a craft to continue evolving.
From Igualada to Ubrique, leather continues to connect people, companies and territories.
And some stories are simply carried under the skin.