2.21.2006

Border-cross-trainers

Artist Judi Werthein has designed a line of shoes specifically made for immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border. Called Brinco--from the Spanish verb brincar ("to jump")--the shoes have a pocket in the tongue to store Tylenol:
"If they go through the sierra, they walk eight hours. Their feet get hurt. There's a lot of stones and there are snakes, tarantulas. So that's why it is a little boot," Werthein says. The Brinco is an ankle-high trainer which is green, red, and white - the colors of the Mexican flag. An Aztec eagle is embroidered on the heel. On the toe is the American eagle found on the US quarter, to represent the American dream the migrants are chasing. And on the back ankle, a drawing of Mexico's patron saint of migrants. A map - printed on the shoe's removable insole - shows the most popular illegal routes from Tijuana into San Diego.

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