Starry Shoe Designer George Esquivel's New DTLA Atelier Lets You See Your Boots Come to Life

George Esquivel has outfitted the feet of Laura Dern, Janelle Monae, Courtney Cox, and countless other famous faces, but any Angeleno can get the star treatment at his new L.A. atelier. The SoCal-bred footwear designer has debuted the Esquivel House, a new by-appointment outpost in Downtown's Arts District, not far from cool shopping haunts like Dover Street Market and Row DTLA.

Esquivel transformed the former industrial building into a nearly-all-white workshop and retail loft space where shoppers can witness his expert artisans crafting the brand's made-to-order leather boots and other stylish steppers on new and vintage machines (which were also painted white). Outside, visitors are greeted with a 'grammable mural by L.A.-bred graffiti artist Retna. (Esquivel also has a production space and warehouse near his home in Orange County.)

Yes, that means you can swing by and watch as your wingtip kicks or bespoke boots are being made by hand at (almost) every step of the way, from when they're cut from untreated leather, to when they're custom-painted and distressed to suit your style, or when they're assembled on shoe lasts and laced up in Esquivel's signature handmade fabric shoelaces.

"Manual time, it can be anywhere from five hours to 30 hours depending on the level of difficulty," Esquivel tells UncoverLA during a recent tour of the space. "There are some shoes that take three-and-half hours just to cut and sew. The coloring can take hours or days. I would say the simplest shoe is probably five or six hours."

If you're looking for ready-made options, there are brocade mules, bubblegum pink suede derby shoes, classic brown leather boots, gold booties, and more women's and men's shoes and small leather goods ($150 to $1,095) from the designer's Flower collection alongside leather sneakers and tote bags ($169 to $575) from his charitable Esquivel X line (proceeds benefit the nonprofit Giving Children Hope).

You can also shop exclusive pieces created in collaboration with the cool cobbler's fashionable friends, including candles ($65) by Lola James Harper, custom hats by Venice-based luxury milliner Nick Fouquet, scarves ($250 and up) by Paris-based Cinabre, womenswear by designer Ryan Roche, and Esquivel's travel accessories collection ($220 to $2,000) for The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Esquivel tells us that the goal is to host intimate gatherings when it feels safe to do so. And while hands-on shoe-making classes aren't completely off the table, and Esquivel says he'd have to consider the disruption to his team and if shoe-loving students will actually get a chance to walk away with their handmade shoes. As anyone who peers into his workspace can see, "that takes quite a bit of time."

Ready to step into a new pair of custom shoes? See more inside the shop and scroll through the gallery above, then book a visit to the Esquivel House online here.

Esquivel House, Downtown (address provided upon appointment); Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to. 6 p.m.