Boot brand celebrates small artisans of Mexico
Have you every looked down at your shoes and wondered where exactly they come from? And who exactly made them? If so, the new Vancouver-based brand Fleece & Hide may be for you.
Offering made-in-mexico boots, the company aims to fill in the blanks between production and purchase. Relying on traditional craftsmanship techniques that merge with modern design, the company's footwear approach embraces small batch and slow fashion.
We caught up with founder Ciaran Acford to learn more.
Q What is Fleece & Hide?
A Fleece & Hide is a local Vancouver brand specializing in small-batch, handcrafted leather boots. We're on a mission to connect our customers with the hands and the faces of the people that made their boots, while showcasing and honouring traditional craftsmanship.
Q What makes it unique from other footwear brands?
A What makes us different is the blending of traditional techniques with a modern platform and design. The textiles that we use have been woven by hand for centuries and have traditionally been used for linens, blouses and cushion covers. The area of Mexico where our boots are made has long been known for its high-quality cowboy boots. We saw an opportunity to take these classic products and showcase them in a way that would reach a new audience.
Q Who is the target customer?
A These boots are for anyone who wishes they knew a bit more about the shoes they have on right now. We believe that handmade is worth the wait and these boots are for people who believe the same. A pair of Fleece & Hide boots are designed to last you this season and the next and the next.
Q Where are the styles designed and made?
A Everything is designed right here in Vancouver and we love to partner with local models, photographers and small businesses to bring all of our products to life.
The boots themselves are made in Mexico. We work with two groups of independent artisans to make our handcrafted boots. The first is a small group of weavers from the state of Chiapas. For the boots themselves, we work with a small family-run workshop in Leon, Mexico's shoemaking capital.
Q Why is handcrafted product important to you?
A We believe it's important to support the communities where our products are made. That's why for every sale we donate $5 to a non-profit based in Chiapas that supports the education of Indigenous children.