Maroquinerie and disability, a creative and values business

La maroquinerie est un art sur le travail du cuir pour les sacs, portefeuilles, ceintures, ou encore les bijoux.  Les artisans de ce secteur ont une expérience et un savoir-faire qui font la réputation de la mode française. Les entreprises de la maroquinerie, pour la plupart, amorcent leur transition écologique et sociale. Cette transition s’opère notamment grâce aux méthodes et aux matériaux utilisés, mais aussi dans le recrutement inclusif. Un recrutement inclusif qui aide à l’insertion des personnes en situation de handicap au sein de ces entreprises. L’APF France Handicap lance fin septembre, un appel à candidature en partenariat avec La Caserne pour intégrer le programme “Maroquinerie”. 

Promoting inclusion in the leather goods sector through accompaniment

Grâce à ce programme, les 15 créateurs en maroquinerie bénéficient de l’accompagnement de l’accélérateur La Caserne. Cet accompagnement a pour objectifs de promouvoir la transition écologique et sociale de leur entreprise. Cela s’applique surtout par le recrutement de collaborateurs en situation de handicap au sein des entreprises. Leur talent et leur savoir-faire, mis en avant par La Caserne et par APF France Handicap permettent de soutenir l’activité des artisans.

To benefit from the support, companies will be evaluated on different criteria. In particular, they will be evaluated on the desirability of the brand, on the ambition and motivation of the founder in a committed vision, on economic viability, on his potential and on his involvement in professional inclusion. The selection of companies was made on April 7, 2021. The latter will now be able to integrate La Caserne to benefit from a promising environment in order to invest a little more in responsible fashion. Leather goods are opening up to new horizons in accordance with the times.

The Leather, Luxury, Textile and Crafts sector employs more than 10,000 people and more than 2,611 artisans in New Aquitaine. This is a traditional sector that has an important role at the regional level. 554 companies in the region work on leather and recruit 3900 employees, which shows the dynamism of craftsmanship. Thus, leather crafts and leather goods are sectors that recruit and are engines of employment.

Sectors in difficulty in the face of the crisis

These sectors, like many others, have suffered from COVID-19. As a result of the containment, the companies were unable to operate for several months. A shortfall for their economy, but also a blow to jobs. Partial unemployment procedures and the closure of local small businesses make recovery difficult. Thus, through this program initiated by APF France Handicap and La Caserne, companies can recruit new employees with disabilities. This initiative is an excellent way to promote inclusion, particularly to boost employment for people with disabilities. For companies with more than 20 employees, a minimum of 6% of the workforce must represent these employees. While some companies are betting on hiring people with disabilities exclusively, other sectors are having difficulty recruiting. This is particularly the case with leather goods, which requires advanced knowledge and special training.

Leather glove and satchel
Leatherwork in leather goods is an art

Values and a passion for creation, in the service of employment

Leather goods is above all a creative and art business, which requires an important know-how. The work of leather and its derivatives requires a technique specific to craftsmanship. In order to continue this know-how, companies are often passed down from generation to generation, retaining manual work. An art and a mastery that make the reputation of French crafts. Thus, crafts offer jobs and opportunities to seize. Many craftsmen are self-employed, self-employed. For them, COVID-19 is hitting their business, curbing the sale of bags and leather goods. This difficult period has an economic impact on this activity, and the creators want to restart their business quickly. That is why this sector recruits, and wants to turn into a social transition.

Crafts play a prominent role in the reputation of French-style companies and know-how. As a driver of employment, crafts recruits and is present in the Neo-Aquitaine environment. Thanks to the recruitment of employees with disabilities, leather goods ensures the transmission of knowledge and a relaunch of the activity. Welcome support after difficult months for the activity of this sector.

Sources:

Press release – APF France Handicap and La Caserne

Company New Aquitaine – Leather, luxury, textile and crafts

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