Friitala Leather Museum

The Friitala leather factory was founded in 1892 by Arthur Hellman who bought a small leather workshop in the municipality of Ulvila. The production expanded quickly, and independent factory units were established. The factory building was expanded in several stages over the decades. During World War II, the factory's production was reserved for the Finnish Defense Forces.In the 1970s Friitala expanded to become the largest leather factory in Scandinavia. Quality leather outfits became Friitala’s trademark, and the products were sold all over the world. Friitala also produced leather for the Finnish shoe, bag, and furniture industry. At the beginning of the 1970s, the factory employed around 1,000 employees. In 1993, Friitala stopped leather manufacturing and concentrated on leather outfits. The story of the leather factory ended in 2010. As the production gradually ceased, the factory building was converted to other uses.

Friitala leather museum located in the former factory building presents the phases of the tannery, leather manufacturing, leather dressing and the factory community from the era of more than a hundred years. The exhibition features e.g. leather outfits, objects and photos related to the leather manufacturing, and a miniature model representing the factory building in the late 1960s.