José Martinez (Portland) is a third-generation (leather craftsman) who works with his wife and three sons to create traditional Oaxacan sandals and other fashionable leather goods. He was born in Oaxaca, Mexico where his father and grandfather worked in the craft.
Bio
One of fourteen children, Martinez was born into a family of leather workers; both his father and grandfather were leather craftsmen. As a young child, Martinez began playing with his father’s leather scraps, and eventually he helped with small tasks. Although all the children worked in the family business to some degree, mainly making typical huaraches (sandals), José was the only one who continued the family tradition. Huaraches are traditionally made by hand and completely of leather; the word, like the shoes themselves, has Pre-Columbian origins. Martinez was an innovator early in his career. While exhibiting his work in Mexico, a buyer invited him to Japan to demonstrate his craft at a Wild West theme park. Martinez stayed there for six years, all the while picking up new ideas and skills for his leatherwork, as well as traditional Japanese cookery. Some years later, Martinez and his wife moved to Portland with their three sons. In 2005, the idea for Orox (a word that combines “Oaxaca” and “Oregon”) Leather Company came into being when he and his oldest son, Martin, began making sandals together in their garage. They sold them at Portland Saturday Market and other fairs. Through this experience, José realized he needed to expand his product line, so the family started designing and fabricating handbags, backpacks, belts, and other leather items. The store resembles an open studio where leather supplies and workbench are on display to visitors who can watch the family create fine leather goods. Family members work with an array of leathers including scratch and water-resistant oil-tanned, form-fitting Chromexcel and Essex, and the malleable English Bridle varieties.
