As Europe’s second-largest shoe manufacturing hub, Spain is responsible for the footwear of many top luxury brands, including Stuart Weitzman.
The designer has been producing his high-end collection in the country since the 1970s and spends about half the year there, working in the factory alongside Spain’s artisan shoemakers.
Despite the country’s rocky economic situation in recent years, Weitzman has been a loyal supporter of the country. In 2010, for instance, in the midst of the Great Recession, he told FN, “In Spain, we have a great position because we have been here many years, own our own factories and employ so many people. Those are things you work so hard to build up, and to walk away from those things would be suicide. Spain has been great to me.”
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Here, Weitzman shares a taste of some of his favorite things about living and working in Spain.
Factory location:
Elda, Spain
Where I stay while I’m there:
“In my own home.”
Go-to dining spot:
“For the best paella in Spain, it’s La Sirena Restaurant in our town.”
Favorite area to visit during my downtime:
“Catalonia, especially the Costa Brava coast.”
The best part of manufacturing in Spain:
“The workmanship, the heritage of shoemaking and the excellent labor relationships.”
Most treasured memory of the country:
“I received the honor of being named ‘Adopted Son of Elda’ — a very special recognition for me after so many years in Spain.”
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