The Incredible Journey of Gaucho Ninja: From Backpack to Global Footwear Brand
Every great story begins with a spark — a passion ignited by experience, shaped by struggle, and driven forward by unwavering belief. Gaucho Ninja’s story is no different. It’s a tale of craftsmanship, resilience, and innovation, rooted in tradition but firmly focused on the future of footwear.
Gaucho Ninja | Human Shape
New documentary by Finn Beales
Director And Photographer: Finn Beales
Dop: Guy Stephens
Second Camera: Luke Atkinson
Sfx: James Beagley
From Success to Legacy
When Gaucho Ninja was founded in 2015 by Lisandro Serra Delmar, it wasn’t just about making shoes — it was about re-imagining what footwear could be. With a reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and groundbreaking designs, Gaucho Ninja quickly carved out a niche in the footwear world. Recognized globally, the brand’s bespoke shoes—some selling for over £2,000—and collaborations with major brands like Loewe and Vivobarefoot attest to its reputation. Winning multiple awards, including three global footwear accolades in 2021 and a string of consecutive honors since, Gaucho Ninja now stands as a symbol of craftsmanship and innovation.
The Struggles Behind the Dream
But behind this success lies a story of resilience and perseverance. Lisandro’s journey began far from the bustling cities of fashion, wandering the world with little more than a backpack and a dream. As a young man, he carried his small leather workshop everywhere, traveling across Canada, the Amazon, Bolivia, Peru, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Traveling was not just about adventure — it was about learning. In each place, Lisandro gathered inspiration, honing his skills and enriching his understanding of natural movement, footwork, and the importance of functional footwear. The travels were tough, often challenging, but they molded his vision and skills.
As a 4th-generation leatherworker, he inherited a lifetime of silence, tradition, and mastery handed down through generations. Lisandro's lineage in leather crafting is both rich and storied. His father, Oscar Serra, fashioned leather bags in his younger years, igniting a generational passion. This craft traces even further back to his great grandfather, Luis Pereyra, a gaucho (an Argentine Cowboy) and a saddler during the 1920s in Argentina—a time when horseback was the primary means of transport. Luis's saddlery flourished until the advent of automobiles relegated this craft to near obscurity. Relocating to Buenos Aires, Luis adapted to a new life as a jack-of-all-trades, yet the legacy of leatherwork silently persisted through generations.
His passion for Bujinkan martial arts, which he studied since 2004, gave him a unique perspective: the importance of footwork, agility, and balance.
‘My experience as a martial artist made me realise the importance of feeling with my feet. Standard shoes are made for exactly the opposite purpose: not to feel anything. Instead of having the feet trapped in rigid unforgiving boxes, the shoes are made with the understanding that feet need to be treated with the same care with which we treat our hands. My aim is to make gloves for feet. The tabi, split toe Japanese traditional shoe for indoors, is an excellent example of this, as the big toe separated from the rest allows the tendons to do their work, the toes will spread in a natural way preventing bunions and also the tabi provides an excellent sense of balance. My passion for Ninja, Samurai and Japanese culture made me go deeper in exploring tabi designs. Now I blend that with the barefoot feeling.'
Starting with making Tabi — traditional Japanese split-toe footwear — he unknowingly took his first steps into the barefoot shoe movement. These shoes, designed as "gloves for your feet," became the foundation of his craft. His understanding of foot health, combined with old-world shoemaking skills, created a new approach to footwear—one that prioritized natural foot movement, comfort, and connection with the earth.
Settling Down to Build a Legacy
In 2015, with a modest inheritance from his grandmother, Lisandro decided to settle in a peaceful medieval town north of Catalonia, Spain. There, he opened a small workshop and launched an Etsy shop. Demand for his handcrafted leather tabi soared as customers around the world discovered his work, appreciating the blend of craftsmanship, innovation, and authentic storytelling.
His commitment to quality and his ability to fuse tradition with modern barefoot principles soon caught the attention of the fashion and footwear industries. The journey led him to move to the UK in 2018, where he built his own workshop in the countryside of Hereford. Not only did he craft shoes, but he also built a home—a rustic oak roundhouse for his family, symbolizing his roots and his forward-looking vision.
From Local Artisan to Global Innovator
Over the years, Gaucho Ninja’s reputation grew. His collaborations with brands like Loewe and Vivobarefoot cemented his standing in high-end design circles. The brand’s pioneering spirit led to the creation of the first-ever barefoot safety shoes, revolutionizing how safety footwear is perceived — marrying protection with natural movement.
His commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, along with his relentless drive for innovation, paid off. The awards kept coming, confirming Gaucho Ninja’s position as a leader in quality and design.
Today, Gaucho Ninja’s shoes are worn with pride by followers around the globe. The brand’s story is not just about shoes — it’s about a passion for craftsmanship, a respect for tradition, and a desire to push the boundaries of what footwear can be.
THE TEAM
Hattie Duke, Lisandro's wide, is the Co-Director of Gaucho Ninja. With over 25 years of experience as a Waldorf and Forest School teacher, she upholds the company’s vision and ethical values. As a mother of twins, Hattie now conducts Biographical Counseling and Nature-Based sessions in her local woodland, operating under the name Hearthlight, whilst supporting the family and the business.
Karen Morris Dawson has known our family since 2015, firstly volunteering for Lisandro’s wife Hattie as part of her previous forest school business and subsequently working for Lisandro and Hattie, looking after their twin boys Tilo and Stanley since 2019. She joined Lisandro at Gaucho Ninja on 2022 in a customer support and secretarial role and has been foundational in supporting Lisandro and Hattie to develop and grow Gaucho Ninja from its roots upwards and outwards into the world. She contributes to many and varied areas of the business, with her heartful passion for the Gaucho Ninja family business, her strong work ethic and belief in exemplary customer support. Karen’s business background in finance, administration and education has enabled her to build systems that support and facilitate the everyday foundations of Gaucho Ninja Limited. She is a valuable member of the team and has grown into her current role of COO, managing customer support, sales and after care, finance and logistics
Malcolm Williams, whose 60 years of footwear expertise guides Gaucho Ninja as a consultant.
Mike Rickword from IceComs is Gaucho Ninja's Webmaster.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Gaucho Ninja is not solely about creating shoes; it's fundamentally about offering a healthier alternative to conventional, restrictive footwear. Drawing on Japanese footwear philosophy, particularly the tabi, Lisandro integrates concepts of balance, natural motion, and foot health into every shoe crafted, supported by contemporary research and technology. This ethos has led to partnerships with renowned brands such as Marugo, Loewe, and Vivobarefoot.
At Gaucho Ninja, our purpose is to improve people’s lives through footwear that seamlessly combines style, comfort, and functionality. We exist to craft high-quality barefoot shoes that promote natural movement, supporting health and wellbeing. Committed to ethical and sustainable practices, we aim to create footwear that respects the environment and empowers individuals to connect with nature—making the world a better, more conscious place one step at a time.
Our vision is to be a pioneering force at the intersection of tradition and innovation in footwear design. We aspire to be a global leader in marrying artisanal craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, creating
timeless yet forward-thinking shoes that elevate natural movement and individual expression. We see a future where Gaucho Ninja inspires a movement towards sustainable, handcrafted shoes that honor heritage while shaping the future of footwear.
THE COMMITMENT
- Connection to Nature: We believe in fostering a deep respect for the environment by using natural materials and sustainable practices in every step of our craft.
- Craftsmanship & Excellence: We are dedicated to the highest standards of quality and detail, ensuring every pair of shoes is a masterpiece of handcraft and innovation.
- Fairness & Integrity: We operate transparently and ethically, valuing trust, fairness, and respect in every relationship with our clients, partners, and team.
- Innovation with Tradition: We honor centuries-old shoemaking techniques while embracing new technologies to improve comfort, durability, and design.
- Empowerment & Wellbeing: We create footwear that enables freedom of movement, supports health, and encourages a mindful connection between body, footwear, and the environment.
WHY GAUCHO NINJA?
Opting for Gaucho Ninja means endorsing a brand that epitomises quality, sustainability, and the conservation of a craft that has transcended generations. It’s about donning shoes that feel natural, promote health, and foster a connection with the earth, all while advancing a legacy of authentic gaucho spirit enriched with global influences and ethical practices.
Lisandro Serra Delmar and Gaucho Ninja continue to resonate with those who not only value exquisite leatherwork but also prioritise foot health and, consequently, their overall wellbeing. As a custodian of his family's tradition and as an innovator, Lisandro invites everyone to walk a path that has been travelled for centuries, yet is tailored for today's needs with every meticulous stitch.