Shopping for leather goods in León is one of the more legitimate reasons to visit a Mexican industrial city. The quality is high, the prices are genuinely good, and the range — shoes, bags, belts, wallets, jackets — is overwhelming. The dedicated shoe and leather market (Mercado de Piel) is the best starting point, a covered market with dozens of stalls selling direct from local manufacturers.
For higher-end goods, the streets around the centro histórico have boutique leather shops with better-quality finishes. Look for handstitched boots if you want something specifically Mexican rather than generic export-market shoes. Bargaining is possible in the market but less common in the boutiques. Bring enough cash and pack light — it is hard to leave León without at least a pair of shoes or a belt.