Every culture and traditional element is meant to portray our lifestyle, our way of viewing and shaping the world we live with our own particularities, having as a vehicle for that the different rituals, dances, food or textiles among others. That's the reason why playing with cultural elements and turning them into a piece to use daily is risky. One reason is because you might endanger the main character and identity of the piece itself, the other, for obvious reasons is that you might be careful on the cultural connotations of what you're wearing and how. When it comes to tradition, innovation is difficult but necessary.

I've personally been very concerned about the topic, and trying to find balance between heritage and present times. As an example, there are so many amazing aspects related to our Spanish ah-mazing festivals and fiestas (which you can see, we're very proud of) that only those who are deeply attached to it might have the chance to appreciate it. Let's take a look at the super intricate hairstyle from Murcia (or "pleita"), the espadrilles made out of esparto surrounding all the Mediterranean area, the awesome and embroidered skirts and textiles for folk dresses at the west of Spain and, as the closest example, our rich and unique valencian silk and fabrics which have a deep connection and relationship to those used in China or Japan for kimonos and celebration gowns.

So, the fabric used in our folk gowns has been of only use for that aim during the decades, except for some dresses, jackets or accessories for fancy purposes such as local events or celebrations related with the Fallas festival. Is something which has been kept very, very local after all. But, I'm glad some entrepreneurs in Valencia have managed to turn tradition and the amazing and colorful brocade textiles into wearable stuff for the everyday such as flats, espadrilles, bow-ties or diadems among other accessories. My red patterned silk flats, which are called Fallerinas (and which you can find at the Espai Ripalda shop if you're near Valencia) are now a piece of my daily wardrobe, and a statement accessory I will use for sure to stroll the streets of Italy in my coming year abroad as evidence of the place I come from. These flats have been lined with a red silk with floral motifs in blue, purple and green shades I could place myself for the design to be set at the shoe as I wanted to. The shoe feels a bit tight at the beginning, as fabric linens are a bit reticent for your feet to fit, but the rest of it is made out of leather, so it's pretty comfortable and nice to walk on after a little while.

I will always be faithful to the local traditions, heritage and craftsmanship any place has to offer. However, if done with passion, respect and the right dose of creativity, I'm 100% with innovation and the rethinking of the most characteristic things every culture has on its own. Somehow, by reinventing and giving visibility to them (in this particular case, in the shape of a shoe), we guarantee these traditions to be kept alive for many more years.