By Tyler Martin
Flabelus, the Spanish brand redefining the traditional espadrille and Mary Jane, is making its U.S. debut in a big way. With 11 flagship stores across Europe and its first U.S. flagship set to open in New York later this year, the brand brought its signature mix of color, texture and timeless design to Dallas for a special pop-up on April 29. Founder Beatriz de los Mozos was on-site to share the story behind her female-founded, sustainably made footwear label—a European cult favorite rooted in traditional Spanish craftsmanship and designed to bring fun, comfort and style together. I had the chance to sit down with Beatriz herself to ask a few questions for our SMU Look audience. Here’s what she had to say.
TM: How do you approach reimagining heritage styles like the espadrille and Mary Jane for your modern audience?
BM: We really look to fashion trends and aim to bring something new each season, which we didn’t do in the beginning. This is actually the first year we’re launching a full collection—150 different styles and colors. Our goal is to attract customers who want something fresh, innovative and fun every season. We’re combining vibrant colors with embroidery, sparkles and different buckles, creating comfortable, classic shoes with a playful twist.
TM: As a student-run magazine in Dallas, we’re always inspired by female founders. What inspired you to launch Flabelus, and what challenges or lessons have shaped your journey as a woman building a fashion brand in Europe and now the U.S.?
BM: Honestly, every single day is a learning experience. I’m not a fashion designer—I’m actually a lawyer. I came from a completely different background with no experience in fashion. Of course, I had friends in the industry, but I didn’t know much about what they actually did. Fashion felt like a tough industry to break into because I didn’t have the career history, background or connections. It all started out of necessity. My doctor told me I couldn’t wear flat shoes anymore, and I wanted to design a flat shoe that worked for me. I did a lot of research and created a design that met my needs. Then other people started finding the shoes useful too. It grew by word of mouth, and by the second month of operations, I was making more through Flabelus online than I did in a year at my law job. That’s when I realized people loved what we were doing, and I had to quit my job to explore it fully.
At first, my friends in fashion told me I needed to find a real source of inspiration for my brand—it wasn’t enough just to make a great shoe. I’ve always been a huge reader, so I decided to name all my shoes after fictional characters and build a whole world around them. Now, every year we have a female character who leads the collection and shapes its image. It’s so much fun.
TM: Flabelus is known for its commitment to sustainability. Can you share how sustainability plays a role in both your design process and material choices?
BM: Sustainability is part of every single decision we make, even operationally. We aim to ensure everything is sustainable or goes through a sustainable process. Of course, there are some materials that can’t be fully sustainable, but we do our best to make each product as environmentally friendly as possible. At Flabelus, we focus on using local resources available in Spain to reduce the environmental impact of production. For example, instead of importing materials like palm leaves from Africa, we prioritize natural resources that are close to home.
TM: How does Flabelus fit into the Dallas fashion scene, and what can visitors expect from your pop-up here?
BM: It’s so interesting because, coming from Spain, my idea of Texas was totally shaped by movies. I thought everyone would be cowboys, with horses and boots everywhere—and I honestly didn’t think Flabelus would fit here! But it’s completely different. Dallas is so colorful, and women here really embrace classic styles. It’s fascinating to see that some brands that aren’t colorful in Spain are popular here, and I love that. The women in Dallas dress a lot like how we do in Madrid. Everyone who has come into the pop-up today looks exactly like our ideal customer, and that doesn’t always happen. It’s amazing to see how naturally Flabelus fits here.
TM: Many of our readers are students interested in fashion and entrepreneurship. What advice would you give to someone dreaming of launching their own brand one day?
BM: First of all, experience is really important—in any career. It doesn’t matter what kind of experience, but understanding how the world works is key. After that, patience is everything. You have to trust in what you’re doing and truly believe in it. At the beginning, it’s scary because you have this great idea and you hope it’s going to work—but sometimes it doesn’t right away. You need to keep believing. When it’s the right idea, you’ll feel it. It’s like falling in love—when you know, you know.
This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.
Cover artwork by Staff Member Athena Mamatas
