“When my sister Mila and I joined the business in the 1990s…we decided that the Pedro García name had to come back.” Photographed by Yaparazzi Events
Vogue Philippines sat down with Pedro García to talk about a century of Spanish shoemaking, marked by the launch of the Essentia collection and the commemorative book SEASONS: A Journey Through Spain With Pedro García.
Pedro García leads a brand steeped in tradition, representing the third generation of a century-old legacy. “It’s been quite an emotional moment for me and my whole family,” he says, reflecting on the 100-year milestone of his namesake brand. “I’m super proud.” The business began in 1925 in the Spanish town of Elda, when his grandfather, also named Pedro, opened a small workshop with his wife. “She was stitching shoes, and he was making them by hand,” García recalls. “It was very humble. They made shoes for men and children.”
From this modest origin, the García family built something enduring. The second generation, led by Pedro’s father, expanded the company’s reach and transformed its focus. “He was very brave,” García says. “He began manufacturing shoes for women. He traveled abroad at a time when that was not easy. He went to England, to America. He spent 25 years working with an American company. That put the Pedro García name on standby for a time, but it taught us how to grow, how to scale, how to work with department stores.”
When Pedro and his sister Mila joined the company in the 1990s, they made a defining choice to reclaim and reinvigorate their family name. “We decided the Pedro García name had to come back. We had to be able to design the collection, manufacture it, and distribute it. A complete 360 vision,” he explains. Mila took charge of production and logistics, while Pedro, drawn to photography, graphic design, and fashion, led the creative direction. Their clarity of purpose became the foundation of a new chapter that respected tradition while embracing innovation.
To mark the brand’s centenary, Pedro García has released Essentia, a capsule collection that the brand says embodies its signature philosophy of refined minimalism. “Even though the materials are sumptuous and rich, the principle behind the design is super simple,” García says. “Sole, one strap, one toe.” The centerpiece of the collection is a sandal called Pipa, a reimagining of a traditional Indian Paducah sandal. It is elegant in its restraint, featuring a satin braided strap and a cabochon made of hand-sourced mother-of-pearl from the Philippines. “We added a strap on the inside to make it more comfortable, but what’s interesting is how something so simple can feel so luxurious.”
This balance of simplicity and sophistication is key to Pedro García’s appeal. “We like simplicity,” he says. “Even a raw edge can be elevated. For example, we use silk satin, and instead of turning the edge like you traditionally would, we cut it raw. That makes it feel less precious, more accessible. You can wear satin during the day. It doesn’t have to be reserved for a special occasion.”
The centenary celebration also includes SEASONS: A Journey Through Spain With Pedro García, a visual chronicle of the brand’s creative universe. “We thought it was a beautiful way to make the ‘Made in Spain’ claim more authentic and real,” he says. Photographed by Daniel Riera, the book presents the brand’s seasonal campaigns shot across diverse Spanish landscapes—baroque palaces in Segovia, artisan workshops in Valencia, the home of a bullfighter in the countryside. “We made interviews with artisans, took pictures in different houses, environments. The photographer has a very good eye for details, textures, colors, and landscapes. These are things that inspire how we proceed with the collection.” The result is not only a document of place and product, but also a tribute to cultural heritage.
The collection also celebrates the brand’s 25-year collaboration with Swarovski. “In 2000, we started playing with components in the studio. We had this anatomical sole on the table and crystal straps, and we just put them together. That was new at the time. You would never put crystals on something meant for comfort. But it worked. It felt fresh.” Over the years, the integration of sparkle into relaxed silhouettes has become one of the brand’s signatures. “Luxury doesn’t need to be formal. It can be playful. It can be unexpected.”
For García, ‘slow fashion’ is not a marketing slogan. It is a commitment that has always guided their choices, long before it became fashionable. “We never moved production out of our own house,” he says. “Our factory is in the same town where my grandfather started. We design, prototype, and produce under one roof. That decision means fewer emissions, more control, and jobs for the local community.” Many of the employees have worked there for decades. “It’s not just a workplace. It’s part of our story.”
The company also works only with certified tanneries that are part of the Leather Working Group. “We look at how they manage water, what chemicals they use. All our leather suppliers are either gold or silver certified.” But for García, he prioritizes designing for longevity. “We are not interested in fashion that expires. A customer recently came to one of our events wearing a pair of shoes she had bought ten years ago. They looked fresh, modern, well taken care of. That is the best compliment we can get.”
At the heart of the brand’s global success is a dual commitment to comfort and elegance. “Almost 98 percent of people I meet tell me the same thing. Your shoes are so comfortable,” he says. “Comfort and fashion don’t usually go together. But I think we made them work. Our shoes are made to live with you. They are not disposable. You can wear them from morning to night.”
Design for García is deeply spiritual. “Emotion is the starting point. We don’t begin with a blank piece of paper. It’s a conversation that began decades ago. And each season is a continuation of that dialogue.” Inspiration comes from many places. “A film, a trip, a problem to solve. Sometimes a material doesn’t behave the way you expect, and you have to find a solution. When you solve it, that moment is so satisfying. That’s also inspiration.”
Although he does not construct the shoes himself, García understands each step. “I know how every part is made. I’m very hands-on. Sometimes I like to polish the shoes. I used to do it during my military service. Now, I still love it. You apply the cream, brush it, polish it, and the shoe comes alive.”
When asked what advice he would give to emerging designers, García becomes thoughtful. “Have you found your voice?” he asks. “Because once you do, just keep going. Be persistent. We have amazing tools now, AI, data. But tools are not the message. There needs to be a person behind it with something to say.”
Today, Pedro García shoes are sold in 48 countries and have been worn by influential women such as Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, and Queen Letizia of Spain. But despite the celebrity, the scale, and the international acclaim, the heart of the brand remains rooted in the same values it began with a century ago. “It’s not just about fashion,” García says. “It’s a story. And we’re still telling it.”
