Behind the Brand

Chanklas | Atelier Ancestro is the product of husband & wife duo Kenny & Karen Armstrong and their mutual passion for ancestral crafts, thoughtful design & ultimately an expression of their own story.

Born in Mexico, Karen grew up with a deep appreciation for tradition and much like her native country, she was heavily influenced by her ties to Europe & the time she spent living in the captivating south of France. As fate would have it, her great-grandfather, was a custom shoemaker. Two generations later, we honor the art of our ancestors with collections that tell its story through centuries old techniques, luxury materials & reinvented handcrafted luxury.

About

Chanklas | Atelier Ancestro finds inspiration in centuries of tradition. It tells the fascinating love story between tailored luxury & sustainable ancestral tradition.

Inspired by techniques used for centuries in pre-colonial Mexico and influenced by its ties to Europe, our collections are crafted with a sensible reverence to the traditions of our ancestors.

Featured in Vogue, Home & Gardens and Glamour Magazines among other publications. Our collections are handcrafted from noble traditions marrying fine supple leathers, perfected techniques and sophisticated feminine aesthetics. A place where tradition & avant-garde meet and past & present beautifully collide.  Every collection’s essence lies in a sense of whimsical sense of wandering & that chic je ne sais quoi is the staple to every pair.

We believe in creating one of a kind pieces with layered significance and emotional value. Ethereal wear that gets better with each wear. At the heart of each collection is the preservation of tradition. Every pair uniting generations of perfected footwear techniques to modern luxury materials. Every piece is ethically hand-crafted by artisans who weave their story into each collection with dedicated attention to the formation of every detail. As designers, we are constantly focusing on the fusion of luxury and sustainable materials. All leathers are exclusively vegetable tanned & all fabrics are made using only native cottons naturally dyed using organics local to Mexico. Ancestral technique used for generations continues its evolution via Chanklas | Atelier Ancestro.