History of Huaraches

Huaraches have come a long way, this Mexican sandal has been part of Mexican culture predating the European colonization of the country. The Mexican sandals are primarily associated with farmworkers in rural areas and native tribes due to the accessible nature of the materials. The families belonging to these groups astutely designed and handmade these shoes in order to withstand long journeys, as various tribes were nomadic, and worked for long hours. The complex, yet simple design of the sandal provided a breathable and durable shoe perfect for the hot weather.

The industry of shoe making has continued today throughout generations of hardworking Mexican families. As early as a child has the capacity to help their relatives with the making of huaraches, they embark in this ancient tradition. Materials continue to evolve, but the traditional design remains.

Our Innovation

In 2016 while Espiritu Founders Francisco Alvarez and Oscar Yapor met a group of Mexican shoemakers who shared the impacts of fast fashion on traditional crafts and artisan products. The traditional design has been living for many years but Francisco and Oscar saw there was room for improvement and more importantly innovation. Wanting to help the local economy and innovating the classic huarache, Espiritu was born. Espiritu’s Artisans have applied the traditional techniques that have been passed to them for centuries with new state-of-the-art design.

Our Growth

We have come a long way and yet we are still innovating our Espiritu Huaraches, using genuine leather to mold into the shape of your foot, cushioned soles for extra support, anti-slip recycled rubber sole and vegetable-based dyes. We listen to our customers and work closely with artisans to design products that you love.

Just like you, we value beautiful and quality designed products just as much as the story and people behind those products. We believe in an industry where exceptional design can be combined with a culture and history to create a new consumer experience.