The History of the Espadrille
Origin Story
Although it’s hard to determine the exact origin of Espadrilles, evidence suggests that they have been worn in Spain for thousands of years - a pair housed at the Archaeological Museum of Granada even dates back to 2000 BCE! But here’s what we do know: Espadrilles are also known by the Catalonian name Espardenyas, indicating to a shoe crafted from a Mediterranean plant used to make ropes: Esparto. This woven design traditionally featured a top crafted from a cotton canvas, with ties to securely wrap around the leg.
Image credits: Crafting Espadrilles (ritmobcn.com), Esparto Grass (dreamstime.com)
In the 14th century, the Espadrille was commonly worn by peasants and farmers as a cheap form of footwear that provided practicality within the warm climate and rugged terrain. It was only later that the Spanish aristocracy began wearing Espadrilles as a fashionable choice. They connoted status and wealth, often being emblazoned with embroidery and other high-value embellishments and were also a great alternative to bulkier leather shoes commonly worn during that time. But Espadrilles have been noted to have also been worn during battle, such as during the War of Africa between Spain and Morocco in 1859, which saw Spanish troops wearing Espadrilles as part of their uniform.
Image credit: Catalonian Troop, War of Africa 1859 (Wikipedia.com)
Rising popularity
Espadrilles have evolved and adapted into the shoes we know today, solidifying their place within Spanish history and culture. In 1927 Luis Castaner and his cousin, Thomas Serra, opened their workshop, Castaner, focused solely on making Espadrilles. Situated in Girona, the heart of Spanish Catalonia, they helped accelerate the shoe into popular culture, with the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dali and Jackie Kennedy seen wearing them throughout the 50s and 60s.
Today, you can find Espadrilles being worn all across the world, securing their place into most summer wardrobes. Here at Crew, we have a soft spot for the style, with our latest summer collection boasting a number of designs perfect for whatever occasion.
Image credits: Castaner Workshop (Castaner.com)
Our Mary-Jane Espadrilles are brand-new for the season and are a modern, stylish take on the classic design. However, the authentic details remain the same, let’s take a closer look…
