Círculo Fortuny hosted the fifth edition of the Master Craftsman Awards in Madrid, an event dedicated to Spanish fine craftsmanship and the challenges facing trades of excellence in a context marked by the need to strengthen the brand, enhance international visibility and ensure the next generation takes over.
This year’s edition focused on craftsmanship as cultural heritage, but also as an activity linked to value creation, innovation, design and the building of brand identity. The event brought together representatives from design, fashion, jewellery, glassblowing and other creative fields to analyse the role of craft trades in high-end industries.
Key topics discussed included the transfer of knowledge between generations, collaboration between workshops and brands, the incorporation of new management and marketing tools, digitalisation and internationalisation. The organisers emphasised the importance of supporting the evolution of workshops so that technical excellence can translate into business structure, visibility and growth potential.
The president of Círculo Fortuny, Xandra Falcó, noted during the event that Spain boasts internationally recognised workshops, techniques and trades linked to sectors such as fashion, design, gastronomy, architecture and interior design. In her speech, she pointed out that the challenge facing the sector is not merely to preserve these trades, but also to create the necessary conditions for them to grow and contribute cultural and economic value.
The programme included a discussion between haute couture designer Jan Taminiau and Xandra Falcó entitled “Where Craftsmanship Becomes Haute Couture”, focusing on the relationship between craftsmanship, time and contemporary creation.
A round-table discussion entitled “Beauty Born of Fire and the Hand” was also held, dedicated to glassblowing, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Participants included Davide Signoretto, master craftsman and CEO of Pino Signoretto Studio in Murano; Diego Rodríguez, master glassblower at the Royal Glass Factory of La Granja; and Mar Aldeguer, from the family that owns Gordiola, who acted as moderator.
The event also featured a panel discussion entitled “From Goldsmithing to Fine Jewellery: Centuries of Craftsmanship”, with contributions from Juan Garrido, owner of Garrido; Jorge Leitão, CEO of Leitão & Irmão in Portugal; and Rosa Tous, Corporate Vice-President of TOUS. The discussion addressed the passing on of the craft, the evolution of goldsmithing and its relationship with contemporary fine jewellery.
The official welcome address was given by Almudena Maíllo, Madrid City Council’s Councillor for Tourism, whilst the closing address was delivered by Aránzazu Pérez, Director-General for Tourism, Trade and Crafts in Castilla-La Mancha.
In this fifth edition, Círculo Fortuny recognised four leading figures in Spanish fine craftsmanship. The award for Best Craftsmanship Career went to Tinajas Moreno León, a family-run workshop in Torrejoncillo, Cáceres, whose oldest piece dates back to 1783. Antonio Moreno represents the tenth documented generation of this workshop, which specialises in the artisanal production of earthenware jars and clay ovens using traditional processes.
The honorary Living Treasure award went to Manuel Quintana, a representative of a dynasty of bell-makers from Palencia with a history spanning more than three centuries. His works include the carillon and the set of bells made for the Cathedral of Santa María Real de La Almudena in Madrid.
The award for Best Avant-Garde Craftsperson went to Idoia Cuesta, a Basque basket weaver based in Galicia. From her workshop in the Galician countryside, her work combines traditional basket-weaving techniques with textiles, leather, plant fibres and formal research processes.
The Young Promise Award was presented to Iván Alvarado, a mosaic artist from Alicante now based in Madrid, for his work in reviving the craft of designing, producing and restoring handmade hydraulic tiles. His work has helped to reintroduce this technique into projects related to architecture and interior design.
The winners will gain access to a mentoring programme supported by some of the awards’ sponsoring brands. The initiative aims to support artisans in areas related to management, strategy, visibility and the development of their projects.
The jury for this edition was made up of professionals from the fields of craftsmanship, culture, design and the luxury sector, including representatives from Círculo Fortuny, the Loewe Foundation, Puig, TOUS, the Royal Glass Factory of La Granja, Navascués, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and other institutional and creative sectors.
Since 2022, Círculo Fortuny has been promoting the Master Craftsman Awards with the aim of raising the profile of fine craftsmanship as part of Spain’s cultural, economic and creative identity. The association, founded in 2011, brings together Spanish companies and brands associated with the luxury sector and is a member of ECCIA, the European alliance that unites the leading luxury associations in Europe.
