HUARACHES: THE CHIC ACCESSORY FOR THE TRAVELING FASHIONISTA
The huarache’s name comes from Tarascan language spoken by the Purépecha people of Jalisco, Mexico who has a key influence on the evolution of the modern huarache as we know in the USA.
It was once solely associated with Mexico, but the huarache gained prominence in the U.S. in the 1960s as hippies and surfers adopted the shoe as part of their chill, lackadaisical lifestyle. (Even the Beach Boys sang about them in their ’60s hit “Surfin’ U.S.A.”).
The sandals have grown more popular through the years, and can now be found at weekend flea markets, retail stores and countless online boutiques and sites. It’s social media presence and influence played a role in making them the must have. The now chic travel accessory for the american fashioniosta has rapidly stepped into the feet of the rich and famous. With endorsements from celebrities and creators the huarache is more stylish than ever, even making it on a Rolling Stones list of best sandles, with endorsements by Justin Beiber and Kanye . They are now found in the lobbies of luxury resorts all over North America, South America, Europe and even Asia.
In modern-day Japan, The “waraji” also a form of sandles (but not a Huarache) are worn by Buddhist monks and by some fishers of mountain streams. Traditional sandals also exist in Japan called Waraji, a word that sounds quite similar to Huarache although there is no evidence of any connection between the two sandals.
Originally of all-leather construction, the thong structure around the main foot is still traditionally made with hand-woven braided leather straps. Over the years, basic thong designs as the Pata-de-Gallo have developed into complex woven styles.
It’s worth noting that huaraches are also mentioned in the novel Ask the Dust, written by John Fante (Camilla Lopez's shoes), and also in the novel On the Road, written by Jack Kerouac. Skeeter Phelan wears a pair of the shoes, which her traditionalist Southern mother hates, in the Kathryn Stockett novel The Help.
Doc Sportello, the detective from Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice, wears a pair of huaraches. He eventually loses one shoe and finishes the adventure using only the other one. In the Seinfeld episode "The Millennium" Elayne attempts to buy a pair of Huaraches from a disinterested shop owner.
SOME HISTORY: The sandals are believed related to the cactle or cactli, of Náhuatl origin. The name "Huarache" is derived from the Purépecha language term kwarachi, and directly translates into English as sandal. Early forms have been found in and traced to the countryside communities of Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato and Yucatan.
