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San Miguel de Allende

Letter from SMA

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By Ximena Collado—

It’s the start of a new year.
This issue has me thinking about new beginnings. Beginnings can be exciting and scary. How do you know when it’s time to start something new? Not everyone has the privilege of starting something new by choice, but for those fortunate enough who do, how can they know?

Enthusiasm toward the desired change must be greater than the comfort of staying where you are now. Comfort can be a beautiful place, but when it starts to quiet your curiosity, it may no longer be serving you. Enthusiasm, on the other hand, carries movement. It propels you forward.

But enthusiasm is not always comfortable. One of the ideas I return to often, inspired by the semiological approach of Alfonso Ruiz Soto, is that what is true is not always what is easy. Real enthusiasm does not necessarily feel light or effortless. It can coexist with fear. It can appear alongside grief for what is being left behind. It can even exist without the approval or understanding of those around you.

And yet, it remains.That persistence is what differentiates enthusiasm from impulse or passing emotion. An impulse burns fast and disappears just as quickly. Semiological enthusiasm stays. It returns quietly, again and again, even when doubt is present. Even when the path is unclear. Even when staying where you are would be simpler.

Enthusiasm is not a promise of ease or success. What it offers instead is direction. It functions as a compass, not a map. It doesn’t explain every step, but it consistently points somewhere meaningful.

So how do you know what to start? Follow what genuinely enthuses you—not only what excites you in the moment, but what continues to call your attention over time. Follow what feels alive, even if it feels inconvenient. Often, clarity does not come before movement. It comes after the first small step, once you allow yourself to begin.

Thank you tosome of the people who have helped me and opened their doors to me with this new project.

Roger Jones, our dear family friend, who always takes the time to welcome us at his breakfast table at his beautiful boutique hotel, Casa Angelitos.

Susana Alonso, an incredible glass artist with whom I spent hours talking at her studio and who made me feel completely at home.

Mike Solof, one of our incredible writers, who simply brings me so much joy.

To everyone who is reading this issue and who read the previous one, thank you. I wish you a beautiful start to 2026.Let’s start this Year of the Horse with strength, fire, and enthusiasm.

See you in February,
Ximena Collado

San Miguel de Allende

The Rise of Perrhijos and Fashion for Pets

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By Ximena Collado—

Over the past few years, something interesting has happened in the world of pets. Dogs and cats have become a huge part of our families — and for many young adults, they’re basically our perrhijos. Because of this, the way we care for them has changed, and so has the way we express our love for them. Pet fashion has grown a lot, becoming a fun and personal way to show who we are through the pets we love.

Today, things like bandanas, leashes, and collars aren’t just simple accessories. They add personality, color, and identity to a dog’s everyday life. More and more people want meaningful pieces that feel special: well-made items, sustainable materials, and products created with intention. Pet fashion has become an extension of our lifestyle. A small accessory can say a lot about the bond we have with our pets and how important they are to us.

But while pet fashion keeps getting more popular, there’s another reality in Mexico that can’t be ignored. Millions of dogs live on the streets without food, protection, or medical care. Mexico has one of the largest stray dog populations in the world, and most of these dogs will never find a home. Rescue groups work incredibly hard, but adoption alone is not enough. Animal welfare experts agree that the only true long-term solution is mass sterilization. Sterilizing dogs is the most humane and effective way to reduce suffering and prevent new litters that continue the cycle.

For one of Amikoo’s founders, this issue became personal the day he and his girlfriend went to a local shelter to adopt a dog. When they arrived, they were shocked to find more than 100 dogs waiting for a home. The staff explained that most of those dogs would never be adopted. Among the hardest to place were big, black, male dogs — often overlooked because of their size, appearance, and stereotypes. Despite this, the couple chose exactly that: a large, black, male dog who immediately won their hearts. That experience stayed with them. It opened their eyes to the magnitude of the problem and planted the seed for what would later become Amikoo.

In the middle of this mix of love, concern, culture, and creativity, Amikoo was born — a brand that blends pet fashion with real purpose. Their products are beautiful, but what makes them special is the story behind them. Amikoo works closely with artisan women from Chiapas who create the textiles for their dog bandanas using telar de pedal, an ancestral weaving technique passed down for generations. This traditional process takes hours of careful work, resulting in unique pieces full of cultural meaning. By using telar de pedal, Amikoo helps preserve a technique that has been part of Mexico’s identity for centuries.

But Amikoo’s support doesn’t stop at paying fair wages. They also run health campaigns so the artisans can access medical checkups and basic care — something that is often difficult to get in their communities. This shows how committed the brand is to taking care of the people behind every product.

Amikoo also designs dog collars made with cactus-based vegan leather, an eco-friendly material created from the nopal cactus. It’s durable, soft, sustainable, and proudly Mexican. This material reflects Amikoo’s mission: to care for animals, support communities, and protect the environment.

Most importantly, Amikoo uses part of its funds to run sterilization campaigns for stray dogs, directly contributing to the only long-term solution experts believe can reduce the suffering of millions of animals on the streets. This gives every purchase real purpose and real impact.

Amikoo started with a simple but powerful goal: to help dogs and help people at the same time. Their work supports artisan families, protects cultural traditions, and funds sterilization efforts across Mexico. Every product supports these efforts and makes a real difference.

If you want to be part of their mission and bring a touch of color and meaning to your dog’s style, you can find Amikoo’s products on Amazon. Every purchase helps the artisans, the dogs, and the communities involved.
Shop Amikoo on Amazon: Click Here

 

San Miguel de Allende

The Story of San Miguel Shoes

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By Ximena Collado—

Walking through the cobbled streets of San Miguel de Allende, it’s easy to believe that memory has a sound—the soft percussion of footsteps on stone, the hum of voices carried by warm air, the slow rhythm of a town that still takes its time. Somewhere in that rhythm lives the story of Don Santiago and Martha, two dreamers whose love gave life to San Miguel Shoes. For them, every pair was more than footwear—it was affection made tangible, a way of stitching home and heart into something you could carry wherever you went.

More than twenty years ago, Don Santiago arrived from León, a shoemaker in search of a new beginning. He found it in San Miguel de Allende, its light, its color, and the woman who would become his lifelong companion, Martha. Together, they imagined shoes that would accompany people through their days – comfortable, enduring, and made with care. The first sandal he crafted for her wasn’t just built to withstand the uneven stones of the city; it became a symbol of their life together – steady, resilient, and full of quiet devotion. Their dream soon grew into a small workshop where every design was shaped with patience and purpose. Each pair was meant to last—to travel through years and stories, just as Santiago and Martha did, side by side.

That same spirit still guides San Miguel Shoes today. Now led by their children, the brand has evolved without losing its soul. The workshop hums with the rhythm of more than fifty artisans, most of them women, whose skill and dedication have turned comfort into an art. From the start, sustainability wasn’t a slogan—it was instinct. Every process is designed to minimize waste, every material chosen for comfort, flexibility, and responsibility.

These shoes aren’t made of leather but of soft, adaptive fabrics that move naturally with the foot. Their light yet durable structure provides a sense of ease and stability, offering the kind of comfort that makes each step confident—even across the cobblestones of San Miguel. Women who wear them often describe the same feeling: a secure, effortless stride that carries them through long days without strain or hesitation. The shoes are made not for fleeting trends but for real lives—workdays, travels, and moments in motion.

Created for women of all ages, San Miguel Shoes blend versatility with timeless style. These are shoes made for real life, practical yet elegant, refined yet easy to wear. Every design reflects the brand’s belief that true luxury lies in quality, comfort, and longevity.

Color, too, plays its part, not as fashion, but as expression. Each year, San Miguel Shoes introduces a new palette inspired by the town itself: the soft blush of morning walls, the golden tones of afternoon light, the earthy reds of sunset. For 2026, the collection turns toward teal, blues, and green tones that capture the freshness of water and the calm of shade on a bright day.

Beyond their beauty, San Miguel Shoes sustains a community. The brand provides dignified work, preserves ancestral techniques, and empowers women who have become masters of their craft. Each pair is unique, an imprint of many hands, shaped by patience and pride. And at the heart of it all remains the story of Don Santiago and Martha. Both passed away during the pandemic, only a month apart. Those who knew them say their love was simply too strong to be separated. Their spirit walks on in every shoe, in every step taken by those who wear them.

Today, anyone can take a piece of that story on their own journey. Each pair is a promise, made to last a lifetime, just like the love of Don Santiago and Martha.
http://www.sanmiguelshoes.com.mx

Huatulco

The Hidden City Behind the World’s Shoes

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By Ximena Collado—

When I tell people I’m from León, they usually smile politely and ask, “Oh, where is that?” Few know that my hometown, tucked right in the heart of Mexico, is actually considered the shoe capital of the world. Not just of the country — of the world.
Not many people think of León as a tourist destination, even though it has a rich culture and great food. Yet it’s one of the closest airports to San Miguel de Allende, so countless travelers who fly in to visit San Miguel arrive through León. Many have unknowingly taken their first step in Guanajuato right here — in the city where the shoes they wear might have been made.
For those of us who grew up here, leather is more than a material; it’s part of our identity, the scent that lingers in the air, the texture of our childhood memories, the heartbeat of our city.
Some of my earliest memories are filled with that smell — the deep, warm leather that seemed to live in every corner of my house. My uncles worked with leather, crafting boots by hand in small workshops scattered across the city. When they hugged me after a long day, they always smelled like leather — rich and earthy, a scent that clung to their clothes and hands. To this day, whenever I catch that smell, it feels like home.
Walking through León, it’s impossible not to feel that connection. The smell of tanned leather still floats from old factories, and the markets shine with beautifully crafted boots and bags.
Our story with leather reaches back to the early 1600s, when León’s artisans began tanning hides and crafting goods by hand. The abundance of cattle in the Bajío region provided plenty of raw material, and the city’s location made it a natural hub for trade. Local histories suggest that Spanish settlers introduced new tanning methods during colonial times, techniques that blended with the skill and ingenuity of local craftspeople. Over the centuries, those small workshops grew into a thriving industry — and with it came a new identity. People from León earned the nickname panza verde, or “green belly,” a name said to come from the dyes and pigments that stained the aprons and skin of the leather workers. Over time, panza verde became more than a nickname; it became a badge of pride, a symbol of the color and character that define our craft.

Today, León produces millions of pairs of shoes every year, from classic cowboy boots to modern sneakers and elegant heels. But what many people don’t realize is that some of the world’s most recognized brands are made right here. I’ve even known friends who produce shoes for brands like Sperry or Steve Madden, proof of how León’s craftsmanship quietly travels the world. Their global designs are brought to life by Mexican hands — by people who’ve learned the balance between precision and intuition, between tradition and trend. If you’re looking for some beautifully made leather shoes, start with local names like Bala di Gala, Flexi, Cuadra, Dante, or Perugia — each one rooted in León’s heritage of craftsmanship and quality.
I always smile when I travel and spot a pair of shoes in a store that I know came from León. There’s something magical about seeing a piece of your city walking around the world — quietly, beautifully, without most people even knowing where it was born.
But León isn’t just an industrial city anymore. It’s transforming into a creative hub, a place where design, fashion, and culture come together. In recent years, I’ve watched boutique studios, design schools, and concept stores pop up all around the city. Events like SAPICA — Latin America’s biggest leather and footwear fair — attract buyers, stylists, and designers from all over the world. León is redefining itself: still rooted in craftsmanship, but now looking boldly toward the future.

San Miguel de Allende

Letter from SMA

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By Ximena Collado —

Welcome to the first edition of The Eye San Miguel de Allende. I have always connected to San Miguel and so, it felt natural, when my friend Jane, who I met at a two-week creative residency in Valle de Bravo told me she was looking to expand the magazine she had created more than 15 years ago in Huatulco to another city.

When I saw the advertising for this creative residency something told me I had to be there. I followed my intuition and promised myself I would come out of there with a project or idea I could execute. I knew this was the project I was looking for as soon as Jane and I started talking about it.

San Miguel is a city I hold close to my heart. When I was little, I came camping with my family and stayed at a trailer park close to the train rails. These trips to San Miguel were our beloved family vacations and they were the perfect combination of nature and town. My dad would give my siblings and I a 5- or 10-pesos coin, we would put it on the rails and wait for the train to pass. Our coins would become flat. We did that every time we came here on vacation.

Unfortunately, this trailer park doesn’t exist anymore. The land was sold, and I am told there are big houses built on that field now. I am trying to embrace change but the nostalgia hits me when I think of my childhood and the simple life. If anyone knows of a nice, simple place to go camping in San Miguel, please let me know.

We would always eat breakfast at Café La Parroquia where the lovely owner would greet us in what I thought was a fascinating accent. I think that’s where my curiosity for foreign languages and cultures started. She became the first “San Miguel local” I ever met. She was there every single morning. And she was so nice to us.

We hope this magazine can help many small businesses reach new clients as well as educate and inform you, our readers, about this beautiful country and city you are visiting or have decided to live in, and I’m so excited to immerse myself in this amazing town.

See you next month!
Ximena Collado

Huatulco

From Pad to Product: The Rise of Cactus Leather

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By Ximena Collado

Have you heard of cactus “leather”? Cactus leather is an innovative, sustainable alternative to traditional leather—plant-based, low-impact, and 100% vegan. This unique material represents an exciting shift toward greener and more responsible products.

Mexico is home to over 3 million hectares of cultivated nopal cactus, making it one of the country’s most important and versatile crops. Beyond its culinary and cultural value, nopal is now proving to be a sustainable powerhouse in materials innovation. Cactus leather production uses up to 99.9% less water than animal leather—around 20 liters per square meter compared to 33,000 liters—and relies solely on rain-fed plants that thrive in arid conditions without pesticides or herbicides. The harvesting process is regenerative, allowing mature pads to be removed every few months without damaging the plant. What’s more, the leftover cactus pulp is repurposed, creating a zero-waste, circular system. With significantly lower carbon emissions and no toxic chemicals used in processing, cactus leather represents a meaningful shift toward more ethical and environmentally responsible alternatives.

The process of making cactus leather starts with harvesting mature pads from the prickly pear cactus without harming the plant. The pads are carefully cleaned and sun-dried for several days to remove moisture naturally. Once dried, they are ground into a fine powder and blended with bio-based resins and natural pigments to form a flexible, eco-friendly material. This mixture is then pressed onto a textile backing to create durable, leather-like sheets that are soft, breathable, and sustainable.

The result is a high-performance, partially biodegradable vegan material celebrated for its strength, elegance, and minimal environmental footprint.

One of the companies leading the way is Amikoo, which creates eco-conscious pet accessories crafted in Guanajuato. Amikoo offers collars and bandanas in a wide range of colors and sizes, blending contemporary design with a commitment to social impact. Their mission goes beyond sustainability: the company actively supports Mexican indigenous communities and promotes conscious, ethical production. Through their non-profit association, Xana Artesanías, Amikoo raises funds for vital initiatives, including health campaigns for indigenous women and sterilization programs for stray dogs in rural areas.

Want to make a difference with your next pet accessory? Treat your dog to a beautiful, eco-friendly collar or bandana by visiting http://www.ami-koo.com or finding Amikoo’s collection on Amazon. Every purchase supports sustainability and helps empower local communities.