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The constant search for new shapes, materials and colours, coupled with a desire for growth and renewal, and the passion for craftsmanship that has lasted a century have made Sendra Boots a key player on the international footwear scene. Javier Sendra, the founder's great grandson, tells us about the past, present and future of a Spanish pioneer.

Sendra Boots was founded in 1913 by Andrés Sendra. What inspired him to create western footwear in Spain back in the early part of the 20th century?
My great grandfather created the company after a trip to the US. Being the son of leather a tanner, the material and everything about it was already well known to him.
What is now Sendra Boots, began in 1913. It was a small firm in Almansa, Albacete, which hand-crafted high-quality mountain and riding boots, and footwear to provide protection from the cold and work comfortably.

What was a Spaniard from Almansa doing in the US back then?
Mainly travelling and getting experience. But he also learned from what he saw and fell in love with the typical American cowboy boot. While in America, he learned how to make them and, on his return, decided to set up business that was a first for Spain.

What is the secret of success for becoming one of the world's leading boot makers?
Above all, work and more work. But we never forget the history behind the name, the philosophy we stand for, and the love for the job and for a product that can be found all over the world.

The company is still in the family and you are the founder's great grandson. Is that family spirit important for a company like yours?
It is essential if you want to stay in the market, but you also need to have a good professional team to back you up. The story of Sendra is not just the story of my own family. It is the story of many families and many workers who have been with us for decades. In some cases, we have the third or even fourth generation of workers with us, like me.

After more than a century of history and hard work, does Sendra still retain that initial philosophy? What is that philosophy, and why and how do you create your boots.
We try to keep the same philosophy we had at the beginning of the 20th century, while changing with the times. At first, our boots were used for work, hence their worn down heels. But now they've become urban boots with more of a biker look, in keeping with current trends.
The main thing is not to forget our mission. Western-style boots are all about freedom and self-expression, even rebellion, and that's something we try not to lose.

In 1962 they reached the American market. What was that early attempt at global expansion like? Is it hard to carve out a niche in America with a typically American product made in Europe?
It is very difficult to get there and stay there, but the important thing is to offer better quality, more innovation and a different design from American manufacturers, and that's what we do. We follow trends and keep in line with fashion, which is what our clients like and that's why they make room for us in their shops.

Do fashion, craftsmanship and comfort go together in your firm?
No doubt about it. We offer crafted footwear which is fashionable, trendy and keeps up with the times, but without losing out on quality, because, along with design, quality is one of our cornerstones.

One of the key features of Sendra boots is the 250-step manufacturing process. Can you explain what that is and which is the most important?
It's true that to make a pair of our boots you need to follow 250 steps, of which 90% still involve handicraft, just as it has been for the last 100 years. Cutting and modelling the leather, stitching and perforation of motifs, joining the different parts together these are some of the steps involved.
The special Sendra ingredient is undoubtedly the double sewing, or Goodyear manufacturing process. That not only makes them unique, but virtually indestructible. First the upper leather is stitched to the insole and the welt from the inside and then the welt is stitched to the outer sole from the outside. That's what makes us different, although we're offering fashion too.
But it's not just the manufacturing. Raw material is very important too. You need to have both top-class leather and professional know-how, and you have to be passionate about getting a job well done.