The challenge of creating a masterpiece every time

Carmen Jiménez
Translation: Gary Cook
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

When the founders of Gallardo set up his little workshop making flamenco dance shoes in Madrid, he never dreamed that his brand would one day boast the reputation it now has both in Spain and abroad. Half a century later the company, now in the hands of a new entrepreneur, remains true to its established principles: producing hand-crafted personalized shoes of the highest quality. With this ethic, the company also aims to spark an interest in young apprentices to carry on the hard graft of this noble profession.

Nobody knows for sure when shoemaking was first established as a profession, but we do know that 4,000 years ago in Egypt it was a highly reputable occupation. The workmanship, attention to detail and tricks of the trade of this profession have been handed down and refined over the centuries, and when the end of the 19th century saw industrial production starting to become a widespread reality, everyone was wearing handmade shoes and boots.

The making of a pair of shoes by hand is a challenge to the experience and skill of a shoemaker. From the moment the measurements are taken to the moment the shoes arrive on their owner's doorstep, the shoemaker can't afford to take his eye off the product for a second - absolute perfection is required. Even with a lifetime of practice and experience behind him, the craftsman always strives to make each new pair another masterpiece. And when they do so, they achieve the aim immortalized by craftsman Chuang Tse: "If the shoe is right, we forget about our feet."

This is the philosophy that characterizes Gallardo Dance, market leader in handmade flamenco shoes. Their story dates back to the mid-twentieth century, when Juan Gallardo opened his little workshop in Madrid, never daring to think that his shoes would one day dance happily the whole world over. His workshop served the needs of legendary artists such as Lola Flores, Antonio Gades, Carmen Mora and Cristina Hoyos, as well as hordes of foreign customers under the spell of flamenco. But there was another reason for Gallardo's success outside of Spain's frontiers, leading it to become the firm leader of the sector it is today.

Buyout

In 1997, the craftsman decided to retire, and put his business up for sale, with the condition that whoever bought him out must scrupulously follow the traditional process which he elaborated in his workshop over the years. An entrepreneur accepted the condition and decided to buy the business, with the backing of a multinational firm, but with a firm commitment to keeping the traditional craftsmanship and methods alive.

The entrepreneur who bought Gallardo was no stranger to flamenco. Aside from being a great admirer of everything to do with this art form, he already had ample experience in this market. In fact, years earlier he founded a factory in the Alpujarra mountains near Granada, under the name of Chacott Internacional, now the sole shareholder of Gallardo. The company was originally set up to make classical ballet shoes, later diversifying into flamenco, and in particular the making of skirts and dresses for dance shows. "We don't make traditional flamenco dresses to wear at street parties and ferias". According to Maribel Zapardiel, spokeswoman for the company, our designs are "functional, modern garments which give a bailaora the freedom to move with ease and comfort."