ACADEMY

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Online training and specialized consultancy in vegetable tanning of marine biomaterials.

Science, design, and material culture applied to the creation of artisanal leather.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

The origin, purpose and approach behind this project.

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UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Building understanding of leather from the ground up, its biological origin, transformation process, and its possibilities in design and product development.

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CHOOSE DON'T GUESSING

Clear guidance on leather processes, materials and applications so every decision is grounded in knowledge, not guesswork.

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MAKE THINGS THAT MATTER

Leather carries centuries of knowledge, cultural meaning and material history. This practice honors that legacy while making it relevant to contemporary needs, and with full awareness of its impact.

--- THE MIND AND PRACTICE BEHIND CUERO DECERO

FOUNDER

I'm Lauren Ordóñez, an industrial designer and biomaterials researcher based in Anchorage, Alaska. My practice specialises in leather craft and plant-based tanning methodologies, bridging historical knowledge with contemporary material science.

My work sits at the crossroads of food systems, design, and cultural heritage, repositioning biological residues from the food chain as viable and culturally meaningful design materials.

Cuero Decero was founded to address three interconnected needs across the fashion industry, material research, and academic communities:

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SUPPORTING STUDENTS, ARTISANS AND PROFESSIONALS,

in the creation of functional leather through processes they can understand, replicate and adapt to their own practice.

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STRENGTHENING CRAFT AND DESIGN CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA,

by bringing historical tanning knowledge back into practice, encouraging responsible use of biological resources, and developing materials that are as culturally meaningful as they are environmentally sound.

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BRIDGING THE LANGUAGE GAP IN LEATHER RESEARCH,

by making technical and scientific knowledge available in Spanish, clearly, rigorously, and in a form that can be applied in the workshop, laboratory and classroom.

--- LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Have a specific project you want to work through?

This is a one-on-one session built around your needs, whether you're looking to refine your process, solve a specific production challenge, or figure out how to work smarter with the materials you already have.

We work through your project together, tackle the challenges that are slowing you down, and find solutions you can actually apply.

Concrete guidance, no fluff.