buy local # 1(mates)

Francesc Mates was a kid crazy about sports but not happy with the equipment available. It was 1947 and he was 17 when he made a pair of running shoes for himself. His buddies thought the shoes were very cool and wanted a pair too. One thing let to another and soon the hand made Mates sneakers were profesionally produced in a little factory right in the middle of Sants, the nieghborhood where the Mates family lived.
It's been over 60 years but things don't seem to have changed that much. The shoes are made the same way, using some of the original machines and in the same location.
Surprisingly the brand is virtually unknown locally but very sought after in Japan.
A new trend waiting to happen? I'd say yes.

All images via Mates.com

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