For George Esquivel, the creative mind behind his handcrafted footwear, blend and balance are all in a day’s work. Spending time in his workshop in Orange County, courting accounts throughout Southern California, and accommodating a steady stream of custom orders, this former CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist takes us through his day:

“My workshop in Orange County is very close to my house. I like to be there at night by myself when nobody’s there, because that’s when I get to be creative. During the day you’re dealing with the issues of sales — if the leather didn’t arrive and you’re dealing with all of those things — which is part of the process, but I don’t get to be creative.

I start my morning by checking my emails at home and once you get to the workshop, it’s production issues and made-to-order issues, and this client wants to know if you could push their shoe quicker, or the leather to make the heels didn’t arrive. All of those things have to be taken care of at the shop. We make everything in-house. We assemble our boxes. We even make our shoelaces in-house. So it’s a matter of juggling all the time.

Regardless of if I go to L.A. or to one of my accounts, like Amarees in Newport Beach or Barneys, or if I have an appointment at the showroom, I might start my day every day at the workshop. I don’t go into my shop to see what’s going on to be a dictator, I go to be inspired. I love seeing the whole process.

I’m in Sherman Oaks right now, where I had an appointment. It’s going to take me two hours to go home [to Orange County] and we’re finishing up the new collection and they’ve been sending me pictures all day and I’m freaking out. I want to go back and see my shoes. So for me, it’s a space of happiness. Even though there are struggles with employees and production times, I really love having my own workshop. [Ed Note: Right now, his workshop consists of eight in-house craftsman]

Some days, I go see a new store that wants to see the collection. Yesterday, I was at Amarees, seeing what they’re receiving for Spring, . They also had part of it in made-to-orders. A lot of my accounts will do made to orders or special orders based on my inventory. Someone wanted a blue alligator mule, so I was reviewing that, and giving them a glimpse into Fall and getting their feedback. For me the exciting thing is the interaction—good, bad, or ugly in terms of what they say. I’m still at the level where I have to do a lot of interaction with store owners, buyers, and clients.

Work life and family life are one in the same for me. My brand is one of my babies. My kids have all worked at our workshop. My son was our janitor before he went to college. My daughter worked at the office. All of our kids have worked at the office. It’s been pretty amazing for my kids to be able to see that. I also live pretty close to my shop, and I’m able to kind of put it together as one.”