We are very proud of our land and we defend our traditions. BrandYourShoes was born because of the Castellers. A castell is a human tower built traditionally at festivals in many locations within Catalonia. At these festivals, several Colles Castelleres (groups who construct towers) often successfully build a human tower and dismantle it. i Before BrandYourShoes started, it used to be a design studio.
We got a request from one of the Colla Castellera, asking us to design shoes for them. With the help of the family’s experience in producing and designing shoes, we’ve successfully created the perfect sneakers for the Colla Castellera. On the next day, a day called ‘’Diada Castellera’’ (a day that all the groups meet), all the groups saw the sneakers and we’re very excited about the sneakers. All the other groups also wanted a pair. This is what started our project and what drives us now.
We realized that we had an orginal and unique concept and that it could be attractive to people and businesses all over the world. In Catalan, the word Castell means castle. A Castell is considered a success when the building and the dismantling of the Castell is successfull .The assembly is complete once all the Castellers have climbed into their designated places, and the Enxaneta climbs into place at the top and raises one hand with four fingers erect, a gesture said to symbolize the stripes of the Catalan flag. The enxaneta then climbs down the other side of the castell, after which the remaining levels of castellers descend in highest to lowest order until all have reached a safe height.
Aside from the people who climb to form the upper parts of the tower, others are needed to form the Pinya, or bottom base of the Castell, to sustain its weight. Members of the pinya (most often men) also act as a ‘safety net’ if the tower structure collapses, cushioning the fall of people from the upper levels. It is not uncommon—when not in competitions—for other Colles to assist in the Pinya when a small Colla is attempting a specially demanding structure in terms of people needed.
Typically Castellers wear white trousers, a black sash (Faixa), a bandana (Mocador), and a shirt in a color characteristic of a given Colla, often bearing the team’s emblem. The sash (faixa) is the most important part of their outfit, since it supports the lower back and is used by other castellers in the team as a foothold or handhold when climbing up the tower. This tasselled piece of cloth varies in length and width and depends on the casteller’s position inside the tower and also on choice.
The length of the sash ranges from 1.5 to 12m and usually is shorter for those higher up in the castell. Performing castellers usually go barefoot as to minimise injuries upon each other as they climb to their positions and also for sensitivity when balancing and to have better feel and hold each other. Under the traditional Catalan motto of “Força, Equilibri, Valor i Seny” (Strength, Balance, Courage, Common Sense and Calmness), els Castellers are an excellent way of showcasing Catalonia to the world and the perfect sample of team work. In BrandYourShoes, We feel the same values that human tower trasnmit, and this are the values that mark the steps of BrandYourShoes team.
