We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariel H. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariel below.
Ariel , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Back when my wife and I were living in Guadalajara, we traveled to Mexico City for a punk show. The next day, a friend asked if we wanted to do anything. Initially, he suggested a museum, and my first thought was, “No way, I’m here to have fun, not learn!”
Instead, my friend had a brilliant idea and took us to a motorcycle swap meet in a really rough part of town. Honestly, it felt like we might get mugged if he left us alone!
As we walked around, I spotted these leather sarape boots that immediately caught my eye. The original design was pretty wild, but I saw something in them – that certain “it” factor. I took that initial spark of an idea and ran with it.
It actually took me over a year to find a reliable supplier of authentic sarape from Tlaxcala. Sourcing the leather and soles was the easy part. The final boot design I landed on was simpler and, I think, more aesthetically pleasing. While a lot of people make moc toe boots, ours have a unique twist. It seemed like everywhere I looked, motorcycle gear had the same design and boring leather colors.
That experience with the boots led to the creation of our gloves, vests, and now a sissy bar bag that I’m really proud of.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Discovering choppers and the biker lifestyle later in life opened my eyes to a whole new world. It also revealed a gap in the market for genuinely authentic Mexican-style motorcycle gear. While elements like sarape rolls and upholstered seats were common, the broader application of this rich heritage in riding apparel seemed largely unexplored. Since then, I’ve been focused on developing products that I myself would be proud to use.
Once I started the process with the sarape boots, I knew I had to keep going. Despite being in the very early stages, the positive feedback from customers and influential figures within the industry has been incredible. Milestones I anticipated taking months to reach are already happening.
A key differentiator for my products is the ability to offer handmade boots within a couple of weeks, with customers having direct input into the design. I’m also deeply proud to integrate my Mexican heritage into a product line that has already been recognized for its potential to reach major retail stores – a comment we received at our very first expo. Interestingly, the products seem to speak for themselves. At every event we’ve attended, the public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with people consistently expressing amazement and noting the uniqueness of our offerings.
Currently, we offer custom handmade footwear, gloves, vests, and sissy bar bags at a price point that is typically half of what our competitors charge.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first began looking for a boot supplier, I headed straight to a town in Guanajuato, Mexico, renowned as the boot manufacturing capital. I spent about 7-8 hours going door-to-door, examining products and accessories. While they had leather, soles, and shoelaces – essentially 70% of what’s needed – the key element, the sarape, was nowhere to be found.
This meant an additional trip to Mexico City to find a sarape supplier. Initially, I encountered some resistance, as the local merchants primarily work within their own community. Fortunately, I was able to connect with an associate there, with whom I previously collaborated on a motorcycle helmet venture. He was incredibly helpful and guided me to the source where the sarapes are made, which has truly made this project possible.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
We currently have a small but very loyal audience on social media.
Fortunately, my wife has been a great asset in this area. Before transitioning to talent management a few years ago, she was an influencer herself. She’s been guiding our content strategy, helping us understand what resonates with our audience. This includes advice on the types of reels to create and how to craft engaging stories that encourage our followers to interact and share our posts. I feel very lucky to have her support.
For anyone looking to build their social media presence, my advice would be to focus on being authentic. Also, investing in a user-friendly editing app can be incredibly helpful. Don’t hesitate to capture photos and videos related to your business and life – you never know when a reel might go viral!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bajaboots.com
- Instagram: @bajaboots
- Facebook: Bajaboots
