1 · Two Headlines, One Handmade Pair
Summer 2025 delivered a media double hit. GQ listed Espíritu in its Best Huarache Sandals for Men, and Byrdie spotlighted the brand in Woven Shoes Are Everywhere This Summer. Both pieces frame the huarache as the thinking person’s warm-weather shoe—light, breathable, rich in cultural memory.
- GQ link: gq.com/story/best-huarache-sandals
- Byrdie link: byrdie.com/woven-shoes-fashion-trend-11774731
2 · What Each Outlet Highlighted
GQ’s Angle
• Natural ventilation, easy dress-up/dress-down curve.
• Pairings that go from linen tailoring to relaxed denim.
• Emphasis on Mexican craft beating mass-made slides in durability.
Byrdie’s Take
• The woven trend across sandals, mules and flats.
• Huarache’s pre-Hispanic roots and its role in slow fashion.
• Espíritu cited for “respecting the weave rather than reproducing it by injection mold.”
3 · Why It Matters After Seven Years—and a Pandemic
Espíritu started in 2018 with five weavers, one last and zero marketing budget. The 2020 shutdown slashed leather supply and froze shipping lanes, yet the community waited—pre-orders held, conversations grew. Global press now means broader awareness, but also higher scrutiny. Quality can’t slip; design must stay anchored to place.
4 · Next Horizon
The team is doubling down on traceability dashboards—materials, workshop wages, carbon miles—and running a preliminary B Corp assessment. Accolades are motivation, not a finish line.
5 · Gratitude in Many Footsteps
Every repost, delayed purchase and word-of-mouth recommendation fed the loop. If you’ve walked a block in Espíritu huaraches, you’re part of this headline.
Press links live as of July 2025. Inventory & sizing may vary by region.
