Dutzi: Worth a Detour

Ariane Dutzi has opened a beautiful new shop in a big old house on the Calzada de los Frailles in Valladolid and but if you aren't passing through you can shop online or see a selection of her bags at the Coqui Coqui boutique on Calle 55 x 62 & 64 in Merida.  All of the bags are made of natural materials by Mayan men and women and most of the materials are reclaimed or recycled.  

Flip Flopped

Merida is a haven for cheap shoes which are perfect for your halloween costume if you are going as a drag queen or prostitute and yet amidst all the glitter and plastic there are a few hidden gems worth looking into.  B&G Atelier is an artisanal shoe shop owned by a local woman who spent 20 years in Switzerland and studied shoe making.  It's a great place to have custom sandals made.  Visit their Facebook page or read about them in this article in The Yucatan Times .  I love the sandals that Hacienda Montecristo  makes from leather and rebozo which are available in their factory store in Valladolid or in Merida at the Coqui Coqui boutique or in Paris at Merci. They also make collections for J Crew and Club Monaco.  In the central market you can find a handful of shoe makers that make very nice Huaraches on recycled tires soles and from experience I can tell you that they do stretch out a lot.  Just follow your nose to the fried fish vendors and avert your eyes from the cute puppies in cages. For a more colorful version of the Huraches sandals check out the Color Amor Talent Store on Calle 55 x 60 & 62.