Marikina has long been the soul of Filipino shoemaking—a city where craftsmanship is heritage, and every shoe tells its own story. Amid this rich history is Zapateria, a brand built on 138 years of skill, love, and tradition passed down through five generations.

At the helm today is Unyx Sta. Ana, the first woman in her bloodline to take on the craft. The daughter of renowned shoe designer Rico Sta. Ana, she continues the family legacy, shaping the future of Zapateria while honoring the hands that came before her.

More than a business, Zapateria preserves time-honored techniques through vetted artisans and master crafters. This story celebrates craft, culture, and the people who keep it alive.

READ: How flowers express love

The roots: A lineage of shoemaking

Zapateria’s story began in 1887, and for five generations, shoemaking has been the lifeblood of the Sta. Ana family. Today, Unyx steps in to lead the craft onto its next chapter.

“In 2015, my father had an accident. That moment made us realize the importance of continuing our family’s love for shoemaking,” Sta. Ana says. “It is critical to help be part of building a community that supports new talent and promotes a sustainable future for Filipino footwear where the craft is valued, and the industry can grow in a healthy and inclusive way.”

Instead of simply continuing Rico Sta. Ana’s brands (Jem Brothers, Jemellee, Josanna, Ultima), she launched Zapateria: part atelier, part innovation hub. “It would have been easy to simply continue the family brand. But what mattered more was creating a space where our artisans could share their knowledge with incoming shoemakers. That’s how Zapateria came to life, a platform rooted in heritage yet focused on collaboration, innovation, and community.”

The road hasn’t been smooth. “Our family has gone through the highs and lows of the shoe industry from economic struggles to the intergenerational challenges that came with our deep connection to the craft,” she reflects. “But… that love is something we have never let go of.”

Her tech background offered a fresh perspective, but it was loss that deepened her purpose. “When my father passed, something shifted… Today, nothing feels more important than what we do or what we make.”

Now, she moves forward with a vision for the future. “We hope Zapateria will be remembered not just for the shoes we make, but for the people, the stories, and the enduring craftsmanship behind each pair.”

The hands that make

At the heart of Zapateria’s operations are its artisans, each with their own expertise and backgrounds. Every shoe they create carries decades of devotion, none more deeply felt than in the hands of Ester Sta. Ana and Eddie San Andres.

Nanay Ester, 74, has been making shoes for over five decades. Her specialty lies in upper making, carefully shaping the leather that forms the outer skin of the shoe. She began at 16, inspired by her shoemaker father. “Love ko sapatos. Mahal ko talaga sapatos,” she expresses.

For her, shoemaking is a way of life. She speaks with quiet pride about the shoes she helps bring to life at Zapateria: beautiful, comfortable, and made to last. “Kasi sa Zapateria, gumagawa kami ng quality [shoes], comportable sa paa.” In her voice is a deep appreciation for growing up in this industry, “’Yun ang kinalakihan ko.” Despite her years in the trade, she doesn’t speak of hardship. “Sa akin, walang mahirap eh!”

Eddie San Andres, 68, brings over four decades of shoemaking experience to Zapateria. Born in San Mateo, Rizal, he has spent most of his life perfecting his craft, moving through the ebbs and flows of the industry while remaining firmly rooted in what he knows best: making shoes by hand. “Hanggang sa ngayon ay gumagawa pa rin ng sapatos dito sa Zapateria… mga higit 40 years na.” 

At a time when mechanization threatens to overshadow handcraft, artisans like Mang Eddie prove that nothing compares to the nuance and precision of a maker’s touch. His technique is built on practice, not just by repetition but also adaptation. He notes that while there are easier, quicker ways to make shoes, some aspects of shoemaking are still best done manually.

“Merong  madali  na  mga  gawa  ngayon, hindi  katulad  ng  araw  na  puro  hiwa  ka  ng  hiwa.  Pero ’yung pagmamokmok, manual  ’yan.  ’Yan  din ang pinakamahirap  sa  lahat.”

Together, Nanay Ester and Eddie embody the very spirit of Zapateria. Their personal journeys reveal the profound depth behind what many may see as a simple pair of shoes. 

Artisanal techniques and innovations

Making a pair of Zapateria shoes begins long before a single cut is made. “The process begins when a client walks in. Some already have a design in mind, while others want something made just for them,” shares Ally De Guzman, marketing associate. 

“Whether they’re buying ready-to-wear or going fully custom, it always starts with listening.” It’s a meticulous journey of pattern making, cutting, sewing, lasting, bottoming, and finishing. Each step, carefully done to honor the future wearer. “We ensure that each pair of shoes isn’t just well-made but also thoughtfully crafted for the person who will wear them,” she adds.

While much of the craft is still done by hand, Zapateria embraces evolution. “We suppose that it’s important to understand that innovation for us is not a contradiction to tradition, rather just a means to refine what is inherently done in a more efficient way,” notes Glice Batulan, managing director. “Sustainability of craft is the main goal.”

Through collaborations with designers from varying disciplines, the creative hub champions a multidisciplinary approach. “Having makers and designers from different backgrounds allows us to learn through play, experimenting on alternative ways of creating and making the experience more well-rounded.”

Openness to trial-and-error is one of the studio’s defining traits. “We don’t just stick to the usual materials and processes. You’ll find us working with everything from natural local fibers to upcycled materials, even repurposing what others might consider trash,” says De Guzman. 

The team welcomes unusual requests and non-traditional sizes, finding joy in overcoming design or anatomical challenges through ingenuity. These range from custom-fitting shoes for clients with uncommon proportions, like feet that match a size 7 in length but require the width of a size 9, to creating adaptive footwear for conditions such as limb length discrepancy, where one leg is longer than the other. “In those cases, we add precise layers to the sole to balance out the difference and ensure comfort,” De Guzman shares.

Sustaining a heritage industry

To keep a centuries-old craft alive in an ever-accelerating world is no small feat. For the shoemakers in Marikina, the challenges are tangible: a diminishing number of skilled artisans, a saturated market of mass-produced imports, and a waning public interest in locally handmade goods. 

The roots of Marikina’s shoemaking identity lie in its grassroots, home-based nature: “Whenever you find yourself wandering in Marikina, you would find little shoe shops and mini-factories in almost every corner. Most manufacturers are really just small teams with sewing machines in their living room; making by hand and heart,” says Batulan. 

Yet what’s kept them going, as Sta. Ana describes, is deeper than the product itself. “Shoes were both a source of pride and a point of tension… but through it all, what stayed with us was our genuine love for the craft alongside the stories we shared, the people we worked with, the community we grew up in.”

Zapateria also prides itself on working closely with public and private agencies to execute suitable, sustainable development plans for the shoe industry. These projects and organizations include the Filipino Footwear Design Competition, a platform led by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. It nurtures young designers and entrepreneurs, while promoting Philippine-made footwear both locally and globally. Another initiative is Solemates Connect, a gathering hosted in Marikina that brings together industry veterans and emerging creatives. It serves as a space to spark dialogue and collaboration for the future of Filipino shoemaking.

Despite the obstacles, stepping away from the craft has never truly been an option. “In Marikina, there’s a common saying that if you have an enemy, give them a shoe shop,” Batulan laughs. “The world of footwear is challenging. Nonetheless, there is a sense of fulfillment in committing ourselves to the craft.” 

That sense of fulfillment is what carries them forward. Or as Sta. Ana puts it: “It really is all about our culture, and the community we’ve become part of around shoemaking.”

Crafting the next chapter

As the brand moves forward, its focus is on nurturing the next wave of artisans, ensuring that the artistry of Marikina’s shoemaking perseveres. “Mentorship and value for sharing know-how became a formula to follow for each generation so that the fruit of their labor can go past the family,” shares Batulan. Zapateria’s goal is to nurture holistic makers beyond bloodlines.

While tradition remains a cornerstone, Zapateria embraces the need for change. “Shoemaking is a tradition in Marikina, but that doesn’t mean we can’t innovate,” says De Guzman. The brand actively explores new possibilities to evolve with the times. “If we believe something can work, we make it happen.” 

For Sta. Ana, the future lies in inspiring young artisans. “I believe they inspire us more than we inspire them, and that’s what truly keeps us going.”