Punto Pigro – Huarache Inspiration
Posted: May 14, 2011 Filed under: Fashion Huaraches, Huarache Culture, Huarache Sandals | Tags: メキシコのサンダル, ワラチ, चमड़े के सैंडल, बुना सैंडल, मेक्सिको सैंडल, हस्तनिर्मित सैंडल, 编织凉鞋, Мексиканские сандалии, 革のサンダル, 멕시코 샌들, Fashion, Gewebten Sandalen, Geweven Sandalen, Handgefertigte Sandalen, Handgjorda Sandaler, Handmade Sandals, Håndlagde Sandaler, Huarache, Huarache Sandals, Huaraches, 짠 샌들, Lädersandaler, Ledersandalen, Meksikanske Sandaler, Mexicaanse Sandalen, Mexican Sandals, Mexikanischen Sandalen, Mexikanska Sandaler, тканые сандалии, Punto Pigro, Sandales à la main, Sandales en Cuir, Sandales Mexicains, Sandales Tissées, Sandali fatti a mano, Sandali in Pelle, Sandali Intrecciati, Sandali Messicani, Sandalias de Cuero, Sandalias Guaraches, Sandalias Hechas a Mano, Sandalias Tejidas, Sandals, Skinn Sandaler, Vävda Sandaler, Vevde Sandaler, Woven Sandals, 墨西哥凉鞋, 手工凉鞋, 手作りのサンダル, 不織布サンダル, المكسيكي الصنادل, المنسوجة الصنادل 13 CommentsI have finally discovered Mexican Huarache designs made outside of Mexico.
The Woven Leather Cancun Sandal from Punto Pigro an Italian company is one of them. Punto Pigro ‘Full Made in Italy’, states on their website that their entire production process is done in Italy.
Punto Pigro is a very interesting company that appears very aware of cultures and traditional footwear from around the world. I am happy that they are introducing such interesting designs as the Woven Leather Cancun Sandal (below) to European, Asian and American consumers.
Below is the original ‘Tamazula’ Huarache design.
As no Huarache designs are patented anyone is free to make Huaraches anywhere they please in the world, but it would also be good to support the struggling Huarache industry in Mexico instead making Huaraches in Italy.
The reason I say this is because with a declining local demand for Huaraches, fewer Mexicans are dedicating themselves to making Huaraches and if we don’t support this traditional Mexican craft now we run the risk that one day all the designs and the Huarache know-how will be forgotten.
As an imitation the Woven Leather Cancun Sandal in no way threatens the Mexican Huarache industry. The Woven Leather Cancun Sandal is also priced considerably higher and at Mex$ 4,340 it costs more than 10 times the price of the ‘Tamazula’ Huarache, I don’t think the Cancun Sandal sandal is even imported into Mexico.
So I hope that at the very least the Woven Leather Cancun Sandal can inform consumers around the world of the wonderful craft of Huarache making and maybe inspire some Mexican Huaracheros to enter the luxury footwear market as Punto Pigro has done.
Punto Pigro also makes a suede version the ‘Tamazula’ Huarache design and its called the Mesh&Ring.
Another Mexican (and Spanish) Sandal Design that Punto Pigro has adopted is the ‘Cacle’.
The original ‘Cacle’ as sold in Tlacolula Sunday Market in Oaxaca.
An original woven design from Punto Pigro below.
Huarache Blog 
Hey,
You blog is a nice thing to see around. Nobody over here in Mexico really cares about the huarache industry, and it would be great to see it come back… what would you recommend so we can give it more strenght and bring it back to life?
Thanks for you work and your comments.
Hi Benjamin, good question. I also want to see the craft of Huarache making become more popular. The current crisis is a very complex problem and there are also many different kinds of Huarache manufacturing facilities; from 1 man businesses to 100 employee factories. So there are many different problems and many different solutions.
But if I were to pick one problem facing the Huarache industry, I think the biggest problem is cost:
Huaraches are some of the most economic footwear that you can buy, therefor Huaracheros have to work very hard and long hours to make money. When you work hard and make little money, you have little time and money to invest in your business:
1. You have no time to create new designs.
2. You have no money to buy new shoe last designs, new sole designs, better leathers
Sure some Huaraches are relatively expensive I know, but they also require a very long time to make, so the problem is the same.
Its hard for Huaracheros to compete with factories that have dedicated designers. Also designing Huaraches is probably one of the hardest kinds of footwear design (much harder than designing tennis shoes), so not only do Huaracheros have little time and money, but also the level of difficulty is much harder.
Many Huaracheros today are making regular woman’s sandals instead of Huaraches to keep their business operational. Inspired from the designs in the catalogs, sandals easier to make and the market is bigger, so better sales and revenue.
Its a very hard suggestion to make because I know how hard Huaracheros work and how hard the economy is; but if they could, Huaracheros should try to invest in making Huaraches that are more expensive looking and to find factory made components that add value to the look of the Huarache and also reduce manufacture time. Things like the Punto Pigro Cancun sole, which is probably made by another factory, also new shaped lasts that can make Huaraches similar shapes to fashion/sports shoes. I think that the Cerrado and Zapato Huaraches for sale have few people interested because the last shape is so outdated (maybe from the 1980’s), for example you could not sell them in a shoe store because they would look out of date.
I don’t like saying this but maybe the best way to make Huaraches popular is to make them good fashion shoes for export to Europe and USA. The quality and design needs to be high, but because Huaraches are not known very well in Europe and the USA it is easier for people to like them for their design and not what they represent (campesino/traditonal shoes). Then when they become fashionable in Europe and the USA then more people in Mexico might want to wear them.
For strength and to bring the industry back to life, Huaraches need to be designed for positive change; they cannot continue to be made the same way, but cheaper.
Worthy blog to read ! thanks
Thanks very much! Onwards and upwards.
Where can I buy the Tamazula style? I had some in the 70s and I miss them so much. Best shoes I ever owned. Bought when I was a young teen and they lasted into my early twenties.
The Tamazula, also known as the Pihuamo Huarache is very popular and the qualities vary. They can be found in most west-central Mexican towns, from Zacatecas to Colima, but the style becomes more common nearer the towns of Tamazula and Pihuamo located between Colima and Guadalajara. You could probably find a pair on Olvera Street in LA, but I would suggest taking a trip to Mexico, to Guadalajara, Colima, or Puerto Vallarta, where you can buy your Tamazulas and from where you can discover the beautiful country of Mexico…and a trip which will probably cost you less.
Thanks,
Can’t go to Mexico or LA – I was hoping to find them online. Do any of the shops have websites?
Too bad, Mexico is a good experience.
Unfortunately there are very few styles of Huaraches for sale online. The traditional nature of the Huarache making craft is not yet very compatible with online retail for various factors. Most Huaraches like the Tamazula are batch produced in relatively small numbers which makes it hard for any online retailer to keep significant inventory. Also the rustic nature of many Huaraches means you should probably try them on for fit before you buy, I think this also discourages many online retailers in case they get too many returns.
Sometimes Mexicans living in the USA make small orders to take back when they visit relatives in Mexico.You could ask your local Mexican grocery store if they know of anyone selling Huaraches.
Happy Huarache Hunting.
I would like to purchase the huaraches in the second photo on this site. I need more information on the huaraches.
The Huaraches you are referring to were photographed in the central market of Aguascalientes. The design is known as the “Pihuamo” after the town of Pihuamo and is commonly found in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
hi there i want to buy two pairs of the original tamazula huaraches as i can see in the foto is anybody to help where i can find it ? i want the original thanks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/mexicansandalsusa?fbclid=IwAR0WNdNfFzBV1eXwghIraSOKD2UHBetCBCXclA2OOqIyFWYANN-R3INkFQs
thanks anyway but this is not what i want i want exactly this one in the foto