Huaraches at The Mercado Libertad in Guadalajara

Huarache Blog often receives comments from readers asking where to buy Huaraches and the first place I recommend is the Mercado Libertad also known as Mercado San Juan De Dios in Guadalajara. Located centrally in the modern city of Guadalajara the Mercado is very accessible and tourist friendly.

The Mercado San Juan De Dios is one of the biggest indoor markets in the world and probably sells the largest volume of Huaraches in all of Mexico. Below are only a few of the styles for sale at this phenomenal market.

There are many Huarache styles for sale here, from delicate women’s styles to thick men’s work styles (click on the images for larger size)

Huaracheria Ester was my first stop when I began Huarache Blog 2 years ago and the owner was very helpful in explaining some the different kinds of Huaraches.

From the most popular ‘Pachuco’ Huarache,

to the ‘Zapatilla’ Huarache.

From the ‘Correa Blanca’ chrome leather Huarache,

to the thick ‘Petatillo’ Huaraches ‘De Campo’ for the fields’ with used car tyres for soles.

Huarache leather is also dyed with used motor oil and typically the older the motor oil, the darker the colour.

But traditionally Huaraches are natural in colour like this ‘Petatillo’ Huarache style.

At San Juan De Dios there are also more traditional Huaraches for sale such as the ‘Recargado’ Huarache that can have up to 60 weaves passing through the vamp.

And Huaraches ‘Piquetitos’ for all the tiny slits which are punched on the vamp.

Below the white and brown Huaraches style which is typical from the South West of Jalisco.

The Huarache ‘Tejido Fino’ which is similar to the ‘Petatillo’ Huarache, but woven with much finer strips of leather.

Here you can see how the upper weave is also woven into the sole.

There are also various kinds of modern Huarache ‘Zapato’ styles, which as the name implies are all closed toe like a shoe.

And there are embroidered ‘Dos Tiras’ Huaraches, both machine and hand embroidered ‘Piteado’ styles using natural agave fiber thread.

Women’s Huaraches include the ‘Cerrado’ Huarache,

and the ‘Martha’ Huarache.

At the Mercado San Juan de Dios you can also see Huaracheros making Huaraches.

Since 1955 Senor Maximo Pellaio can usually found weaving in front of his Huarache stand.

I particularly liked his Huarache ‘Costeno’ also known as ‘Armadillo’.

Here was an old pair of ‘Pihuamo’, or ‘Tamazula’ Huaraches with a lot of character.

Senor Juan Saucedo is another distinguished Huarachero working in the Market. He has multiple University degrees and can be considered a philosopher as much as a Huarachero.

Senor Saucedo makes 268 Huarache designs, among the 40 or so styles in his shop this ‘Petatillo’ Huarache design which is quite hard to find in other parts of Mexico.