Risto sport's Leidy Solis- PAN AM Champion 2009

Risto sport\
Leidy in winning form, wearing her Risto's. Congratulations Leidy!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

At the Risto production site

Right now, I´m at the Risto production site in South America.

All I can say is "wow". I´m so happy, the shoes are coming out awesome. And, it really is all craft work. You know: made by hand, by artisans, using traditional family methods.

Talking shoemaking

I think the carbon footprint is lower than other brands: all local materials are used, mostly natural materials such as the 100% leather upper, using traditional methods. Each shoemaker has atleast 20 YRS experience in this craft.

The artisans, themselves, seem to have a co-op like realationship. There is almost a familial atmosphere in the shop- just a few people working on an art form they love, shoe making. To get materials or supplies, they just go down the street to the leather shop, or the wood shop.

Yes, these are made in a small shop, not a production line. It reminds me of the place where my parents bought my first violin in New Jersey-- you know, a small store front, locally owned small business. In the back, there was a room with strewn peices of wood curing, violins in all stages of fabrication. A melange of entreprenuership and art.


Oscar sewing the upper

I´ll be posting more photos and details later ...

0 comments:

What Weight Class should Gwen lift in?

www.ristosports.com

Any product YOU Need, in a world of colors..

Introducing our own brand: Risto Sports & Equipment, hand made in the Americas.
-ALL Leather Upper Shoes, custom colors and heels available
-Singlets, custom designs available, sleeveless and sleeves
-Leather Belts
-Wrist Wraps
-Knee Wraps

On the shoes:
As always, we seek to continuously improve our product offerings. So, we are bringing you a product that is designed with input from National Coaches in the America's, 100% Leather upper, solid wood heel, double-stitched, lots of hand work, and more green manufacturing footprint (less transport, manufacturing uses even more local materials, less synthetic material in the shoe).

The design is a very sturdy fit. High quality finished leather upper, with suede leather accents. Wood heel either laquered or natural finish. Rubber sole.