Diegos

A Piece of Espadrille History

This traditional espadrille workbench, called a “Banco Alpargatero” in Spanish, dates back to 1892.

A century ago, tens of thousands of artisans in Spain and France worked on benches like this, often directly in the streets, hand-stitching espadrille soles from natural esparto grass. It was a trade, a rhythm, and a way of life.

Today, this rare and beautiful bench has found a new home in our DIEGOS Montreal studio, where the tradition continues to inspire our work.

It makes us wonder…
could this be the only Banco Alpargatero in North America?

I’m Diego, from www.diegos.com


By chance, I stumbled upon Señora Benedicta and her granddaughter, sitting on the porch of their home, skillfully stitching the DIEGOS Black Espardenya.
They were chatting, laughing, and enjoying the moment — just another day in Cervera del Río Alhama, La Rioja, Spain.

This is how true espadrilles are made.
Not in overseas factories.
But by hand, among family and friends, in the comfort of your own home, passing down a craft from one generation to the next.

👉 Discover only authentic, handmade Spanish espadrilles at https://diegos.com