An Immersion into Leathercraft

Over four days, the participants were invited to dive into the world of leather through a three-step process: observe, experiment, create.

The workshop began in the heart of the Tunis medina, with an exploration of its narrow alleys to meet the last remaining leather artisans and saddle makers. This observation phase allowed the young participants to discover the tools, materials, gestures — and also the social and economic realities behind the craft.

Guided by Narjes Ben Abdelghani, architect and researcher in design and cultural mediation, and Mohamed Laabidi, a master leatherworker with more than 40 years of experience, the teens then learned the key steps of the craft: cutting, folding, gluing, assembling, engraving — all using traditional, manual techniques.

No power tools, no decorative extras: the final object — a handmade leather creation — was shaped entirely by hand, with care, precision, and meaning.

A Pedagogy of the Hand, a Collective Process

This workshop followed a participatory educational approach: the children were not passive learners, but active creators in a shared process.

They were invited to think like designers — considering form, function, and use — while also reflecting on the role of the artisan today and exploring the expressive potential of materials.

The meeting between the artisan’s expertise and the designer’s contemporary perspective created a bridge between tradition and innovation, transmission and invention. Through this sensitive and rigorous approach, Sāni` صَانِع helps shape the citizens of tomorrow — attentive, precise, and collaborative — embodying the values at the heart of handmade work.

A Material that Speaks, a Craft that Endures

In a world where manual trades are often overlooked, Sāni` صَانِع puts the hand, the material, and the gesture back at the center of learning.

Far from nostalgic folklore, this program brings forgotten knowledge back to life — knowledge that holds memory, place, and intelligence.

By facing the slowness, difficulty, and demands of leather, the participants develop a new relationship with time, with creation, and with others.

They leave the workshop not only with an object they crafted themselves — but with a lasting experience, one that anchors their gesture in a larger story.