THE FOUNDER
ABOUT MARITZA
Maritza Cardenas is the founder of Cayucas. Raised in California and originally from Los Angeles, she grew up wearing huaraches everywhere, to work, on dates, on vacation, at home, and out with friends. Summers spent in Sahuayo, Michoacán, the town her parents are from and where Cayucas shoes are made, deepened her connection to the craft and to the artisans behind it. Huaraches were never just shoes. They were a part of her daily life.
When her lifestyle shifted after moving from Los Angeles to New York, so did her relationship to footwear. She wanted handmade leather huaraches that could move with her, shoes that felt just as natural in modern, everyday life while still honoring where they come from. Cayucas became her way of reimagining the huaraches she grew up with into something timeless, versatile, and intentional.
At its core, Cayucas is about honoring home. It is Maritza’s way of sharing a piece of Sahuayo with the world, its craftsmanship, its spirit, and the people who keep the tradition alive. Through Cayucas, she brings together heritage and modern life with care and intention.
Today, Maritza continues to build Cayucas alongside artisans in Sahuayo, guided by the belief that what we wear should carry meaning. “I wanted to create something crafted to carry you,” she says, “through your days, your movement, and the places that shape you.”
THE BRAND
ABOUT CAYUCAS
Cayucas began with a deep, everyday relationship to leather huaraches. Worn through workdays, slow mornings, long walks, celebrations, and travel, they have always been more than footwear. They are a way of moving through the world, grounded, intentional, and present.
Rooted in Mexican heritage and shaped by modern life, Cayucas was created from the belief that tradition can evolve alongside the people who carry it. As lives change, paths shift, and cities move faster, there is beauty in holding onto what feels familiar while allowing it to grow. Cayucas reimagines the huarache for today’s rhythm, versatile enough for wherever the day leads, refined yet deeply grounded.
Each pair is handwoven by artisans in Sahuayo, Michoacán, a town known around the world for its huarache-making tradition. Generations of craftsmanship live in every weave, honoring a process that has been passed down with care and intention. Designed for modern movement, Cayucas brings this heritage forward without losing its soul.
At its heart, Cayucas is about honoring home and sharing it beyond borders. A reminder that where you come from can travel with you. Made with premium leather, authentic weaving, and all-day comfort, Cayucas blends timeless craft with thoughtful design, creating shoes meant to be worn often, carried far, and lived in fully.
ROOTED IN MEXICAN HERITAGE
our signature style
the alma
The one our community keeps reaching for. The Alma is a handmade leather huarache fisherman sandal, woven by artisans in Sahuayo, Michoacán using traditional techniques. Lightweight enough for all-day wear, versatile enough for every kind of day.
WORN IN REAL LIFE
Styled by our community and worn from city walks to slow mornings.
Usadas en la vida real.
