The Mediterranean Choice For Shoes

Some shoes belong to a season. Espadrilles belong to a way of life. Every summer they return to holiday wardrobes, coastal promenades, and café terraces as though they had never left. Fashion brands may introduce new colors and fabrics each year, but the shoe itself has changed remarkably little. That is because long before it became a fashion icon, it had already become something much harder to improve: a perfect solution.

The story begins along the Mediterranean coast more than seven centuries ago. The name espadrille comes from espart, a tough grass native to Spain that was twisted into rope to create durable soles. Combined with a simple canvas upper, it produced a lightweight, breathable shoe that was ideal for long, hot summers. It was inexpensive to make, comfortable to wear, and perfectly suited to everyday life.

For generations, espadrilles were simply the shoes people wore. Farmers worked vineyards and olive groves in them, fishermen headed to the harbor wearing them, and artisans, shepherds, and merchants appreciated their comfort during long days outdoors. Even Spanish soldiers adopted rope-soled shoes for certain campaigns because they were lightweight, flexible, and surprisingly quiet. Nobody considered them fashionable. They were valued because they worked.

Many of the world’s most enduring designs began the same way. Woven baskets, straw hats, linen shirts, and market totes were all created to solve practical problems before they ever became stylish. The espadrille belongs to that family of objects. Its beauty comes from honest materials, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a design refined over centuries rather than seasons.

Everything changed when the Mediterranean itself became fashionable. During the twentieth century, artists, writers, and Hollywood stars embraced the French Riviera, the Balearic Islands, and Spain’s coastal villages as places that represented an easier, slower way of living. The espadrille made the same journey. What had once been a humble working shoe slowly became associated with effortless summer elegance, proving that fashion often discovers beauty instead of inventing it.

Its defining moment came in the late 1960s when Yves Saint Laurent approached the Spanish shoemaker Castañer with an unusual request: create a high-heeled espadrille. The collaboration transformed a centuries-old peasant shoe into a luxury fashion icon, inspiring countless interpretations by designers around the world. Leather replaced canvas, silk ribbons were added, wedge heels appeared, and new colors followed, yet the signature rope sole always remained. No matter how fashionable the shoe became, it never forgot where it came from.

Perhaps that is why espadrilles have never gone out of style. Unlike many summer trends, they don’t depend on bold patterns or dramatic shapes. They feel just as appropriate with linen trousers as they do with a flowing dress, tailored shorts, or relaxed denim. They are comfortable without looking sporty, elegant without feeling formal, and refined without trying too hard. Their appeal comes from ease rather than excess.

That same simplicity explains why espadrilles feel equally at home along California’s coast. The climate that shaped them also exists from Santa Barbara to San Diego, where warm afternoons, cool evenings, farmers markets, seaside cafés, and coastal walks encourage the same relaxed rhythm of living found throughout the Mediterranean. A pair of espadrilles looks perfectly natural wandering the streets of Cadaqués, enjoying lunch in Portofino, or exploring Carmel-by-the-Sea. They are, in many ways, the perfect Caliterranean shoe.

Although millions are now produced every year, many of the finest espadrilles are still handcrafted in Spain and southern France using techniques that have changed very little over generations. Rope is braided by hand, the upper is carefully stitched into place, and natural materials remain at the heart of the process. In an age of fast fashion and disposable trends, that kind of craftsmanship feels increasingly rare.

Perhaps that is the real secret behind the espadrille’s remarkable longevity. It was never designed to become fashionable. It was designed to make life more comfortable under the Mediterranean sun. More than seven hundred years later, it continues to do exactly that. Some shoes belong to a season. Espadrilles belong to the coast.

Wear the Lifestyle – Inspired by the relaxed elegance of California and the Mediterranean, here are our top choices:

The Classic Coastal Espadrille
A timeless neutral inspired by sunlit coastlines and effortless summer dressing.

The Ribbon-Tie Espadrille
A Mediterranean favorite designed for elegant afternoons and golden evenings.

The Market Day Espadrille
Comfortable enough for morning markets and beautiful enough for lunch by the sea.

Did You Know?

The word espadrille comes from espart, a tough Mediterranean grass traditionally used to weave rope.
Rope-soled footwear has existed for centuries, with early versions dating back well before the Middle Ages.
Espadrilles were originally worn by farmers, fishermen, shepherds, and artisans throughout Spain and southern France.
In 1970, Yves Saint Laurent and the Spanish shoemaker Castañer introduced the wedge espadrille, forever changing the shoe’s place in fashion history.
Many traditional espadrilles are still handmade today using centuries-old rope-braiding and hand-stitching techniques.