Finnish leather workshop trains its own artisans to meet skilled labor shortage

A small leather goods workshop in Hämeenlinna has launched its own training program for artisans in partnership with a local vocational college, aiming to address a critical shortage of skilled leatherworkers in Finland, Yle reports.

Kasperi Products, which manufactures high-end leather backpacks and bags, has trained three students in a four-month intensive course—an investment the company estimates at €10,000 per trainee. The program, developed with Ammattiopisto Tavastia vocational college, covers essential skills like machine sewing, stitching techniques, and leather handling.

“Europe’s most valuable companies are built on craftsmanship,” said Michael Tervanen, Kasperi’s operations director. The company’s goal extends beyond its own growth: it aims to establish a broader artisan hub in Hämeenlinna, attracting other crafts-based businesses.

One trainee, Elli Sihvo, was hired immediately after completing the course. “That was my goal. They needed a worker, and I was a candidate,” she said. Another, Niina Rantala, plans to continue her studies in shoemaking—a field with only two remaining training programs in Finland, both struggling to meet demand.

The initiative was inspired by Parisian luxury house Hermès, which trains its artisans in a multi-year program. While Kasperi’s course is shorter, Tervanen emphasized its efficiency: “The key is that applicants are determined and motivated to enter the field.”

Laivi Koit, a shoemaking and leatherwork instructor at Tavastia, noted rising appreciation for craft professions. “People now understand that repairing extends a product’s life,” she said, adding that most graduates secure jobs quickly.

Kasperi, which relocated from Forssa to Hämeenlinna partly to access Tavastia’s resources, produces around 100 bags monthly, with 60–70% exported to markets like Germany, the US, and Japan. The company’s 2025 revenue reached approximately €530,000.