Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Functional Artistry Of Botas Vaqueras From Mexico

By Rick Fonseca


The designs of botas vaqueras have developed over a period time. While this Mexican cowboy boot will appear to be comparable to what is made in the United States, it has some notable features. The primary feature is its more decorative details and use of exotic animal materials.

They are more decorative because they are made to be admired by others. These boots can be a more expensive purchase because of unique handcrafted details. Their cost will also depend on the particular animal skin used. But, still the price remains cheaper than comparable U. S. Products. Despite their spectator appeal, they maintain their functionality for their intended purpose. They come in so many varieties, colors and styles every member of the family will want one for their own.

Mexican cowboy boots are known for using exotic material such as the lizard skin, armadillo and ostrich. They can have studs, buckles spikes and tassels as embellishments. Embroidery and other decorative adornments create unique works of art. They are usually hand crafted and are rarely made from ordinary leather.

These distinctive examples of bootmaking are the product of a country which trains artisans involved in the footwear industry. This is a lost art in the U. S., where most footwear is imported. The leather goods center in Mexico is Leon, the largest city in the state of Guanajuato. This is the heart of the leather goods industry in the country. It is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. More than seven hundred thousand workers are labor for employers in the region. The industry has established research, training and educational facilities to support its business. These increase their capacity for technological advances and their introduction into business practices.

Like classics which are reinvented continuously with different textures and colors, these boots are reinvented individually. If the buyer prefers a high end product, it will not come cheap. In the early days, beginning the vaquero boots had no heels. Now, their are also heeled styles. Their shaft height can also vary. Foreign buyers will notice there is a distinctive v shaped cut at the upper end of the footwear.

For better use with stirrups, the riding boot has a heel and a pointed toe. Walking boots may or may not have pointed toes. Toe styles are more about style than function. It is a matter of choice. The shaft is usually decorated in unique themes or designs.

Many Americans are unaware the design source of the traditional American cowboy boot hearkens back to 16th century Spanish vaquero influences. The vaquero was a Spanish horseback rider who herded livestock. Spaniards brought this tradition to their colony in Mexico. Mexican livestock herders who arrived in the late 17th century transferred the tradition to the U. S. In this period. This included what they wore at work. The traditional boot form of these herders became the source of what a cowboy wore thereafter.

Every member of the family will enjoy wearing their own botas vaqueras. Since they can now be bought stateside, one does not need to travel across the border to acquire them. After one is worn, its wearers will likely make it a habit.




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