Last week, I had the incredible pleasure of teaching 30 fashion students at the Fashion Department of UQAM how to make a classic, handstitched espadrille completely from scratch.

As the founder of DIEGOS®, sharing the traditional craftsmanship behind authentic Spanish espadrilles is something very close to my heart. Bringing this knowledge into a university setting (especially here in Montreal) felt truly special.

Passing On a Spanish Tradition

With the help of my wife, Gabrielle Cousineau, we guided the students step by step through the entire process of making a traditional flat espadrille by hand.

To make sure every detail was clear, we also used a close-up instructional video of my hands demonstrating each stage of the process — from preparing the canvas to stitching the upper to the sole. The video allowed students to clearly see every movement, every stitch, and every technical detail up close.

By the end of the workshop, every single student completed one full espadrille entirely by hand. The second shoe? They now have all the skills and the video to confidently finish it at home.

What I Brought for Each Student

For me, it was important that this experience be as authentic as possible. Each student received:

• A pair of flat Spanish espadrille soles (in their exact shoe size)

• A needle

• Traditional Spanish thread

• Spanish canvas

• The pattern

• A palm thimble

Everything they needed to experience true, traditional espadrille craftsmanship.

Here's a photo of my daughter Camille, who, together with her mom Gabrielle, helped prepare the DIEGOS bags with all the materials listed above. Camille carefully wrote each student’s name on their bag and even added a small custom drawing to every single one.

DIEGOS is truly a family business. From preparing the materials at home to teaching in a university classroom, it’s something we build together — and I love that my daughter is already part of the story.

A Wonderful Exchange

There’s something very powerful about seeing 30 students completely focused, stitching by hand, discovering the rhythm of traditional shoemaking. The room was quiet, concentrated, and full of curiosity.

I especially enjoyed sharing some sewing tricks and techniques with the Fashion Department Director, Richard Fontaine — moments like these make teaching so rewarding.

Thank You, UQAM

Many thanks to the students at UQAM, you were dedicated, patient, and truly wonderful to teach.
It was also a pleasure to work alongside Gabrielle and to share this experience with Mme Faust and the students. The energy in the room was fantastic.

Passing on this craft is more than teaching technique. It’s about preserving tradition, understanding materials, and appreciating the value of making something entirely by hand.

I look forward to the next workshop.

Diego Arnedo
DIEGOS Espadrille workshop