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Frequently asked questions

What gets asked most, answered briefly. If your question is not here, email us.

What is a huarache?

A huarache is a woven leather sandal from Mexico. The upper is strips of leather woven by hand over the last, rather than cut panels stitched together — a construction older than industrial shoemaking, and still made by hand in parts of the country.

Where is UBILAM made?

In a family workshop in the Michoacán highlands of Mexico, where the same weave has been passed down for generations. Every pair is woven on its own, one at a time. The shoes then ship from Stockholm.

What leather are they made from?

Vegetable-tanned cowhide — tanned with plant matter rather than chrome. The sole is an EVA midsole with a synthetic crepe outsole. No synthetic uppers.

Which size should I choose?

Modelo Uno comes in US 5–11 women's, US 7–14 men's. Sizes are given for a bare foot. If you fall between two, take the larger — the leather stretches in girth but not in length. The size guide has a comparison against brands you already own, a table to measure your foot against, and the girth of every last: the leather gives about a centimetre in girth, so a foot measuring up to a centimetre more than the last will still go in.

What is the difference between men's and women's?

The same length scale, a different width. The women's last is the narrower one — half a centimetre less in girth at the bottom of the range, one and a half further up. It is a width choice at a given length, not two different models. A pair that feels tight is more often tight across than short.

How long is the lead time?

Your pair starts being made once you have ordered it, so expect about six weeks. It is a pre-order rather than stock — that is the cost of the pair being woven by hand for you.

Can I exchange my size?

Yes. Email us and we will send a free return label for the exchange.

What if I change my mind?

You have 14 days to withdraw under Swedish distance selling law. Email within that window and send the shoes back within 14 days after. You pay the return freight on a withdrawal; if something is wrong with the goods, we cover it.

How do I care for them?

Wipe them dry. Treat the leather a few times a season. Keep them out of the rain — vegetable-tanned leather takes water badly and marks easily.

Do they need breaking in?

The leather softens with wear and settles around the foot. If your foot sits at the upper end of the last's girth, the pair will feel tight the first few times and then give about a centimetre.

Got a different question? orders@ubilam.co