Natural Wonder

Designer Beatrice Valenzuela exudes an unpretentious wordliness — in her life and her work. The Echo Park-based artist creates a limited-edition collection of handmade leather shoes that are steeped in the handicraft traditions of her native Mexico, but also nod to indigenous cultures from around the globe.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Valenzuela — who shares an art-filled apartment with her boyfriend and their 11-month old baby girl — spent time in various U.S .cities and in Paris, where she lived for two years studying French and soaking up French culture, before settling in Los Angeles seven years ago.

Orginally trained as a hair stylist, the designer has since expanded her creative repertoire to encompass shoe designer, weaver, ceramicist, cook, artist and mother. Fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian (with a little Japanese thrown in for good measure), Valenzuela boasts an international sensibility and a sharp eye for those tiny, exquisite details that turn handicrafts into high fashion.

We sat down with the gamine designer to talk footwear and the future...

WELL-SHOD: Beatrice Valenzuela Tejido sandals, $160.

Style Section L.A.: Why did you decide to design moccasins and shoes?

Beatrice Valenzuela: I always collected moccasins. I would get vintage ones, Canadian moccasins, Pueblo moccasins…I studied anthropology, so I have this fascination with anything indigenous – just how basic things can be, and how beautiful. So I had this obsession with moccasins and handmade shoes. And I found I couldn’t find a good pair of shoes out there that were good for every day that I really loved the design of, that were comfortable and that were affordable. There was almost this mark of $300 or above, and sometimes people can’t afford that.

And if you’re going to be wearing them every day – well, my moccasins were too precious to be wearing every day. Everything [in fashion] was so high, too. Now that I have a baby, I can’t wear high heels. When I was pregnant, especially, I felt like I needed to be really close to the ground, and maybe subconsciously I still feel like I need to be grounded. It’s good for me to stay real and not get too caught up in the consumer craziness that comes with living in a city like Los Angeles or New York.

What’s special about your moccasins?

The soles are recycled rubber from different sources, sometimes tires, sometimes whatever – so sometimes it's thicker, sometimes thinner in places, depending on where [the rubber] is coming from. The idea is not to make more trash. When you make a new product there’s so much trash that comes with it – it’s almost like a flaw in the product design. We try to use a lot of leftovers, like remnants from big rolls. Our productions are small; we don’t waste anything. Then, the leather is very, very soft. You can see the little markings for the patterns – all the little marks are part of what makes the shoe unique and give it that handmade feeling. Even though the pattern is the same, they all have their little subtleties that are different. Maybe some wrinkles here or there, or little imperfections in the leather. They feel really good on. It’s even better without a sock, because you can really feel the leather inside.

SUN-KISSED: Valenzuela with her sweet little gal, Astrid.

You design the shoes, but who actually makes them?

I think it was about six years ago now that I went to the [urban] market in Mexico City. I love going to the market there and finding new treasures. And that’s where I met Ricardo Medina. He has been [making] shoes for over 20 years. He’s a real hippie – no cell phone, no car, nothing that makes you have to be a part of the system. I just fell in love with everything about him. I pretty much talk to him about [my design ideas], say ‘What do you think of this, this and this? And a little thing over here!’ and he’s like, ‘Okay,’ and then he does it and it’s perfect!  

I’m just keeping very simple ideas. I’m not trying to reinvent anything. The shoes are so organic and so beautifully made, I almost feel like you can see the hands that made the shoe. I love supporting artisans from where I come from, and things are really hard in Mexico right now. If I do well, he does well. It makes me really happy to be able to give him what he deserves, to be able to give back.

WRAPPED UP: Nahuatl sandals, $120. 

Can you describe your personal style?