Espadrilles are casual flat or high-heel shoes originating from the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope. The jute rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille; the uppers vary widely in style.
The term espadrille is French and derives from the Catalan name for the "espardenya", which derives from espart, the Catalan name for esparto, a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass used in the making of rope. Espadrilles have been made in Catalonia since the 14th century. Traditional espadrilles have a canvas upper with the toe and vamp cut in one piece, and seamed to the rope sole at the sides. They eventually have laces at the throat that are wrapped around the ankle in order to hold the shoes securely in place. Espadrilles are worn by both men and women.
The soles of espadrilles may be flat, platform or wedge shaped, and are made of natural fiber. Uppers are made of canvas, and may have open or closed toes, open or closed backs, and can be slip-on or tied to the ankle with laces.
Only second to cotton in favor as a natural fiber, jute is used in the manufacturing of espadrilles. The soles of our espadrilles are now made with jute rope or braid, which is favored because of its eco-friendliness compared to synthetic substances.
The soles include partially vulcanized rubber beneath the jute fibre for long-lasting espadrille shoes.
The manufacture of espadrilles is generally more complex than that of sandals. The jute soles are the most critical part. The jute twines are first machine braided. These braids are then manually shaped into a sole and hydraulically pressed with heat to form the final shape, and completed with vertical stitching. These basic soles are then vulcanized underneath.. Uppers of different styles are then added to the jute soles to complete the espadrille.