The espadrilles: iconic, comfortable, green and fashion

Every shoe a walk, every walk a different concept of the world

(Nanni Moretti, in Bianca)

Espadrilles in the summer are a must, not because fashion says so, but because they are light, comfortable and durable.

These are shoes with a rolled-up rope sole and an upper usually made of cotton: simple but with an interesting historical value. In fact, it seems that the inhabitants of the ancient Roman colonies of Africa already wore similar socks made with interlaced espartoya fibers, also called espardenya (from which the terms espadrilles in Spanish and espadrilles in French), a perennial plant belonging to the very resistant Mediterranean flexible, usually used for the production of paper and ropes. It is certain that they were already worn by the fishermen of the Basque coasts and the los campesinos, the peasants of the Pyrenees more than 200 years ago.

Thanks to Castaner, a Spanish company founded in 1927, they became a status symbol in the 50s and 60s when they were worn by style icons like Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy. Great artists such as Picasso and Salvador Dalì were also conquered as a symbol of comfort, freedom and non-conformism. It was Yves Saint Laurent who sent them for the first time on the catwalk, equipping them with wedges and using prints and fabrics other than cotton. Between the 80s and the 90s they experienced an incredible boom: unforgettable those worn by Don Johnson in the telefilm “Miami Vice”. And this summer they are back. In classic version, more or less flat or glamorous with woven wedge. The green models are very interesting and original, finally more and more popular. I spotted those produced by Komodo, made in Bali in respect of work and in the transparency of a fair and equitable supply chain, using natural materials such as hemp, linen and organic cotton for the upper, the sole instead is produced with discarded tires and recycled. To promote reforestation, a bamboo is planted with the purchase of a shoe. The artisanal espadrilles proposed by Lefanghe are also unique: cut and sewn by hand with recycled American original vintage denim and with a natural jute sole.

The espadrilles: iconic, comfortable, green and fashion … perfect also for the next summers!