Brands like The Palatines are just one reason why people say the West Coast is the best coast. Designer Jessica Taft Langdon began by searching for footwear factories in the eastern seaboard to develop her line of American-made shoes but ended up thrilled to find a small enclave of footwear craftspeople and factories in Los Angeles. Before taking the plunge and launching her own label, Jessica worked with an impressive group of brands such as Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and Everlane. This jet-setting designer has called Philadelphia, New York, and Milan home, but created The Palatines with a commitment to local production and an American sensibility. Look for LA-made leather flats, sandals and more with comfort-making details you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. We sat down with Jessica to talk about her design process, ballet past and our exclusive collaboration.