The local residents of Los Realejos have always been proud of their craft skills. In the past they were known for their belts, tights and silk cloths. However, it was their woven baskets that had the lion’s share of the market. The production of wicker baskets and bags was done locally, but they would be sold all across the island.
However, the most famous industry of here is the lace industry. At the beginning of the 20th century it was estimated that more than two thirds of total insular production came from these workshops. The biggest market for this product was Britain.
Nowadays though, Los Realejos is known for other crafts and trades, such as the production of pyrotechnics. Los Realejos is, without a doubt, one of the most important sites for pyrotechnics in both Spain and Europe. The firework manufacturer Hermands Toste is a family business that was founded in Los Realejos in 1788, which has been passed down the generations and which still continues to use traditional techniques to build its fireworks.
This pyrotechnical manufacturer, which is the oldest in Spain, has won many awards for its masterful skill, including first prize in the Monaco Fireworks Championships of 1993 and 1995, second prize in the same championships in 1980, and second prize in San Sebastián in 2000, the publics awards in Tarragona in 2003, and also the International Arch of Europe’s Golden Star for Quality in 1990.