By Carolina de la Cajiga
It would be natural to think the prices would be exorbitant. While having handmade shoes is definitely a luxury, Edui Ulises Arroyo’s prices are incredibly affordable.
«I love what I do,» states Ulises. «Odysseus, my workshop and brand, is a temple where I spend hours and hours happily creating, or thinking how to improve something I’ve already made, or rambling, and imagining new designs and leather products. I usually work 8 to 10 hours a day, but when orders pile up, I work 12 hours or whatever it takes.
Ulises explains how he found his way: «This is a job that came to me without my looking for it. My father, Don Ricardo as he is known, started working with leather more than 40 years ago. In the mornings he worked at La Aurora, and in the afternoons in his leather workshop. When I was a kid, he let me play with his tools and machinery, but—at that time—I didn’t want anything to do with the workshop or with leather. I thought that the farther away, the better.” Until, at the age of 19, when he was at university he had to create an imaginary business. Somehow, this made him see the benefits of what he had at home. He developed a leather project that turned his life around. «I discovered my passion while attending university,» he recalls with a smile.
Don Ricardo and Ulises still work in the same shop, although one does traditional work while the other invents and looks for ways to modernize and open new channels for his production.
Ulises has a degree in International Business from the University of Central Mexico, Celaya campus. This has been very useful for him to export his handmade footwear. «To grow my business, I am exploring having my designs in department stores, and/or selling online. That is the future, and the world is my frontier. I created my website myself, which I’m very proud of. You have to be ready to be a multi-chambas (A jack of all trades) to get ahead,» Ulises says.
«Several times I’ve tried to train workers, but it’s difficult. They have to have the right mentality. I need people who fall in love with leather like I did. I’m still looking,» he says with a wink.
«To take a big leap and move to the next level, I’m looking into support from government entities or other sources. Growing a small business like mine is not easy. I have to find the time to stock material, produce, promote and sell, and turn my dreams of growth into reality. For now, I already have two distribution points, one in Monterrey and the other here,» he says with enthusiasm. «Customers in San Miguel come to pick up their purchases in my workshop or I make home deliveries. For those in other places, I ship nationally or internationally. I’ve shipped shoes to many places in Mexico, and even to Canada, Holland, Germany, and Italy. Some to people I’ve never seen; it all happened online.»
“Buying custom-made shoes is sadly something few people experience. I bend over backward to suit the customer’s needs and tastes, and that creates a unique bond. It’s impressive when customers tell me that after wearing shoes made by me, they can no longer buy shoes in shoe stores anymore. I’ve even had people from León, the shoe city, buy from me which is startling and a great joy to me,» says Ulises, brimming with satisfaction.
«Seeing my customers walking the streets of San Miguel with my creations fills me with pride,» exclaims Ulises with a mischievous smile. «What I like most to make are dress shoes for weddings and graduations, as well as tennis shoes. What I don’t make are women’s high-heeled shoes because that requires a very different technique. Yo no l’entro (That’s not my thing). My clients are not necessarily rich but people with great taste who look for something special,» he declares.
«It’s not all milk and honey. I had an order for ‘Chelsea Boots’ that turned into a big mess. Super difficult to make by hand. ¡Fue cañón! (It was really tough!) It took me two weeks and gave me a lot of headaches. Although, in the end, they were a success and a good lesson. As the saying goes, ‘Zapatero a tus zapatos’ (Stick with what you know best). My specialty is handmade creation, not industrial work,» Ulises says humbly.
«Before the pandemic, through Facebook, I met an orthopedic shoe manufacturer in Canada. Eventually, we managed to coordinate and I went to work at his workshop in Toronto. I learned how to make special shoes for people who can’t walk or have foot problems. I learned about machines and processes very different from the ones I use here in Mexico. My stay in Canada was fabulous, and I learned a lot. It was my first trip out of the country—a great experience. I visited Niagara Falls and the Bata Museum which has a most comprehensive shoe collection. We keep in touch and I’m planning future visits.” Ulysses exclaims, «That visit changed my life. Now I know I am on the right track in the shoe industry!”
You can find Ulises at his workshop at Relox 108, Centro, Monday through Friday from 10am to 3pm, and 4pm to 6pm. On Saturdays, from 10am to 3pm. And online at Instagram: odysseus.sma, Facebook: eshoes.sma. And at www.myodysseus.com
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