Beñat Alberdi

Makila maker

• Beñat Alberdi seeks to rescue and preserve this tradition
• His atelier makes makila – walking sticks – according to traditional methods
• He continues the legacy from one generation to the next

Beñat Alberdi gave up his first career to follow his family’s pledge to preserve this traditional craft. The makila – the Basque people’s walking stick – is the companion of shepherds on the paths, meadows and mountains of the Basque Country. It is a symbol of respect, authority and strength. Made entirely by hand from the wild medlar tree, it has a horn pommel, a goatskin covered handle, casings engraved with Basque motifs, a hidden spike in the handle and a tip that touches the ground, usually made of steel. A graduate in Business Studies from the University of Deusto, Beñat learned the secrets from an early age with his father, Iñaki, and his grandfather, Joxe. At 32, he left his job as an export manager to follow his family’s footsteps and dedicate himself to this craft. Now he leads the third generation of Alberdi artisans. Joxe Alberdi, a woodcarver, opened the workshop in 1948 on the ground floor of his father’s house in Irun. Today, Alberdi Makila is proud to be the only Spanish workshop that produces this popular object that has reached the hands of kings, popes, politicians and artists. Alberdi Makila is a benchmark in sustainability, tradition and the successful transmission of responsibility and commitment from one generation to the next.

Interview

© Vogue

© Marce Morante

Why did you choose to work with the makila?

Crafting the makila is more than just a craft for me. It is part of my family, our tradition and our culture. It is a significant symbol of respect and recognition within Basque culture. Its slow handmade production system has remained the same for centuries.

From whom did you learn the craft?

I learned the craft mainly from my father, Iñaki Alberdi. He had seen his father and uncle patiently making them in the workshop since he was a child. I have followed in my family's footsteps to rescue and preserve this tradition.

What could you highlight about the craftsmanship behind the makila?

The characteristic reliefs of the makila come from the incisions we make in the wild medlar tree when it is still in the Pyrenean forests. We look for the most suitable branches, mark them and return later in the season to cut and collect them. Once the sticks are ready, we treat them with quicklime, straighten with heat and add their metal complements.

How do you express tradition in your craftsmanship?

It is a Basque tradition to offer a makila to a person we want to honour. Making them is a laborious and slow task. Today, Alberdi Makila is the only Spanish manufacturer of the Basque people’s walking stick. There are only two other workshops in France that produce them.

Beñat Alberdi is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2010

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