Today we’d like to introduce you to Oralba Valera-Smith.
Hi Oralba, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My designs are inspired by all kinds of everyday experiences and very much inclined to the hope of a sustainable way of life, which being Spanish, I also engage from my passion and fascination for the Hispanic Historic Roots.
Born in Venezuela, designer Oralba Valera is a natural as well as a trained fine artist, designer, decorator, photographer, and exceptional craftswoman. Oralba’s professional acumen includes positions such as Art Director, Graphic Designer, Art Teacher, Illustrator, and Assistant of Animation at the Cinematography Department at the University of Los Andes in Merida – Venezuela. She has also served in varying artistic capacities including Collections and Exhibitions Assistant at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and volunteering at the department of Education at the Orlando Museum of Art.
While in Venezuela Oralba opened her Design and Decoration factory, where she designed and fabricated unique designer wearable accessories in canvas for children. Eventually, her product line grew to accommodate the demand for adult men and women’s accessories, still focusing on eco-friendly materials and a dedication to originality and uniqueness in each of her wearable pieces of art. Today, Oralba offers unique bio-friendly wearable art designs that feature authenticity, comfort, and originality in a long-lasting wearable art product.
Oralba’s Shoes are entirely handmade with bio-friendly, recyclable materials, featuring comfort and unique classic designs and styles that never go out of fashion.
My designs are inspired by all kinds of everyday experiences and very much inclined to the hope of a sustainable way of life, which being Spanish, I also engage from my passion and fascination for the Hispanic Historic Roots.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Marketing my business/art has been definitively challenging; that’s for sure. Sometimes not getting the enough response that I dream of. It can be hard sometimes as feedback plays an essential role, especially at the beginning. Adequate planning is the path to sales, being a one-person business has been a significant struggle when it comes to marketing myself since I also create, and make, my wearable art products. Marketing needs continuous attention and so is consequently very time-consuming.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Without a doubt Hands-on, texture, and sustainability are my true obsession, the tactility, the feeling of a material in my hands cannot be replaced or described, I truly love the idea of my hands being the machine that make my designs come to reality, it is difficult to explain but it is what I feel. I am also blessed and thankful to be able to help people with special footwear needs who many times have come to me because they cannot find shoes to fit which makes my wearable art more than just wearable. I have an anecdote that would like to share with you. I will always remember a lady who came to my studio at the hub on canal who due to an accident had to wear different sizes shoes ( 5 and 8) and said “I was told that you are the person who can make my feet happy” gave me a hug and start crying, well suddenly both we were both crying, it was one of this moments in life when one feels that it is always possible to make a difference in people’s lives and I truly feel blessed for that.
I truly feel that being a shoemaker puts my art in the category of lost art and in a way sets me apart from others since there are not many shoemakers around. I usually hand-make the shoes at the events I attend. I consider myself recycling passionate. The fabrics I use are mostly recycled, it is something that I carry through my veins and heart and it is not easy to give up.
The need to experience and live in a natural stage and minimize the damage to our environment living a more natural life, bringing awareness, and living a more sustainable life has been and is the root of my designs/art. I have always been acutely aware of the effect of environmental pollution since childhood and will keep doing whatever is in my hands to help to relieve our environment which is also our home.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
Definitely, the biggest risk so far has been when I decided to quit my regular job/steady income at the bank system in order to follow my passion and do what I love. I truly consider myself a risk-taker in different areas of my life and truly think that Taking risks can make you braver, stronger, and more confident. Risks show that you have what it takes to make a decision, commit, and create the life you want. You build faith in yourself knowing you have done it before and can do it again.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oralbashoes/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OralbasShoes/
