A History Of The Espadrille
Posted on 12 February 2018
The timeless espadrille has become a summer fashion staple for many, however this has not always been the case. Espadrilles were originally crafted in the Occitania and Catalonia regions of France and Spain and designed as an easy-to-wear utility shoe made with canvas and a jute rope sole. The name derived from ‘esparto’, the species of plant that was braided to create its iconic sole.
Born in the 13th century, espadrilles were worn by the infantry of the King of Aragon. Intended for both men and women, they were liked by clergymen, workers and dancers and came handy as casual shoes as well. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s when espadrilles had their big, fashionable break-through when Hollywood icons such as Lauren Bacall and Rita Hayworth were watched on movie screens wearing jute soles.
In the early 1970s, Yves Saint Laurent launched the first ever wedge espadrille which became an instant hit and new interpretations can be seen on the catwalk every Spring/Summer season.
Image via The Met Museum
For our Spring/Summer 2018 collection, we decided to take a look at the espadrille and adapt it slightly by replacing the classic cotton upper with suede to give the shoes a slightly more sophisticated look.
Our espadrilles have been manufactured in Spain with all materials ethically sourced in Spain.
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