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I first met Karla back in 2013, when Isleñas didn’t even exist. We were both living in New York, dreaming about moving back to Puerto Rico and making a living doing what we love. We were even neighbors in Brooklyn! We’d often find ourselves at a neighborhood café, having brainstormin sessions about all the dreams we wanted to fulfill. Well, both of us eventually made our triumphant return to the island, although I must admit Hurricane María gave us that extra nudge. In Karla’s case, her dream was an ambitious one: to design, manufacture, and sell shoes from Puerto Rico. And not just any shoes, but espadrilles! She chose this path because she knew exactly what it would entail; after all, she had years of experience managing large-scale shoe productions in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Karla understood the challenge would be monumental: building everything from scratch and creating a vertically integrated supply chain, practically by necessity. Today, Isleñas is a solid brand of shoes and accessories, with collections for men, women, kids, and even the trendiest pets. And the best part is that most of the production happens right here in Puerto Rico, in her workshop in San Juan, where Karla has trained local talent with the same care and dedication she puts into every pair of shoes. It’s a true gem made on the island! The photo above might not be the best, but it captures a special moment from our journey back: a panel on textile manufacturing in Puerto Rico, where we both had the chance to share our stories. I vividly remember Karla captivating the audience as she talked about starting Isleñas from scratch and overcoming all the challenges to get to where the brand is today. It was a proud moment, one of those that make you realize all the dreams, long nights, and hurdles have been worth it.
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