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Diego's quest for authentic espadrilles
A quest that starts in rural Spain
Lors d’un de ses nombreux voyages, Diego documente la façon de coudre de Teresa’s (surnommée la reine). Durant les belles journées d’été Teresa préfère coudre ses espadrilles assise à l’ombre dans un parc situé en face de sa maison.
Diego has been invited by Conchi into her fresh and cozy backyard and observes her skilled hands sewing a turquoise espadrille, while she tells him how her mother taught her to make perfect even stitches.
A beautiful scene of Diego and his little son Esteban with Benedicta, who sews on a bench in front of her house. Both are impressed by her mastery and steady hand that create our beautiful espadrilles out of fabric, rope and cotton thread.
Diego observing Benedicta, who does not mind sewing in the sun, while her husband placidly takes his daily afternoon siesta in front of their centennial house.
Anunciación lives on a hill with a magnificent view over her vineyard. She enjoys the cool afternoon hours explaining her art to Diego, who’s listening attentively, while in the background we see her grandson, who’s waiting impatiently for his grandma to come inside.
Diego’s wife, Gabrielle, learns the art of Espadrille-making from the Queen Teresa, while Diego watches and documents the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the other in the mild afternoon sun.
A typical peaceful scene in the village, where friends and neighbors stop by to chitchat about the day, while Bene sews her bundle of espadrilles. Diego shares their moment of casual, laid-back companionship.
Documenting the tradition
Making History
Diego visiting and learning from the tailors, that use iron molds in different sizes to cut through the sturdy cotton canvas that will be used by the seamstresses to sew our espadrilles.
Diego having a deep conversation with Benedicta and her granddaughter Ixiar, sitting in the cool shade next of their house. Benedicta is patiently passing on her skills and the tradition to the new generation.
The shepherdess, Tía Flores, who in her late eighties, never skips a day to go up into the hills that surround the village to feed her goats, shares her wisdom and philosophical life approach with Diego on her way home. She still sews espadrilles, while she waits on her goats on the hills.
Benedicta sharing a precious moment with her granddaughter Itxiar and with Diego, who both devoutly listen to her captivating storytelling around her memories and her life in the village as an espadrille seamstress.
Vicente, the sole maker, sitting behind his wooden sole turning bench, initiating Diego in the art of hand-rolling espadrille soles out of rope braids.
Teresa and Diego discussing the best technique of espadrille hand sewing which consists in a steady, tight and even stitch. It takes years to master the speed and
Tia Flores, the legendary shepherdess of the village, sitting in the arid hills close to the village sewing an espadrille for Diego, while she shares her wisdom and life philosophy.
Diego standing on one of the hills that surround the village, looking down at the true cradle of espadrille-making. This sleepy little village has succeeded in keeping the hand craft alive throughout the centuries and the globalization of the economy.
Anunciación conversing with Diego about the importance of experience when it comes to make solid stitches that will hold the heel of a wedge espadrille in place.
Tía Flores, the shepherdess, showing the espadrille she has just sewn to Diego, who admires her mastery.
Diego visiting José Luis, the rope-maker. He makes the rope made out of jute grass and recycled fibres recycled fibres from Barcelona. His machines from the 1950s take the single strands of rope and braid them into strands.
Diego, his wife Gabrielle and his two son’s Enzo and Esteban are taking hands-on lessons from Anunciación in the art of espadrille-making.
After eating some tapas with the artisans, taking a break in the village having a fun ride on the traditional old Spanish transport method, the patient donkey.
Diego observing his wife Gabrielle taking lessons in the art of hand stitching espadrilles from the Queen Teresa, in the park.
Latest video footage
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