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 _01.jpg) Two examples of the most traditional espadrilles of Spain, in standard cloth and herringbone | |
| Type | Rope-soled shoe |
|---|---|
| Material | Canvas orcotton fabric upper andesparto rope sole |
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Introduced | 1322 |
Espadrilles (Spanish:alpargatas oresparteñas;Portuguese:alpercatas;Catalan:espardenyes;Basque:espartinak;French:espadrilles)[1] are casual,rope-soled, flat but sometimeshigh-heeledshoes. They usually have acanvas orcottonfabric upper and a flexiblesole made ofesparto rope. The esparto rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille; theuppers vary widely in style.
Espadrilles are a typical form of Spanish summer footwear, with strong historical ties to the regions ofCatalonia,Aragon, and theBasque Country. The word derives from theCatalanespardenya and refers toesparto grass, a plant indigenous to the south ofSpain that is used to make ropes and basketry.[2] Although they are still widely manufactured in Spain, some production has moved toBangladesh, the world's largestjute producer.[3]
Originallypeasant footwear,[4][5] they were popularised throughout the 20th century by many cultural figures includingPicasso,Salvador Dalí and laterJohn F. Kennedy andYves Saint Laurent.[6]
The existence of this kind of shoe in Europe is documented since at least 1322, when it was described for the first time with its currentCatalan name.
The termespadrille is French and derives from the word in theOccitan language, which comes fromespardenya inCatalan. Bothespardenya andesparteña refer to a type of shoes made withesparto, a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass used in making rope.[7] Its name in the Basque region isespartina.[8]
Espadrilles have been made in theBasque Country,Catalonia and roughly all overSpain as well as theOccitania region of France. They were the usual peasant footwear since the 14th century at least, and are still being produced as from old. The oldest, most primitive form of espadrilles dates as far back as 9,500 years ago.[9] Traditional espadrilles have acanvas upper with the toe and vamp cut in one piece and seamed to the rope sole at the sides. Often they have laces at the throat that are wrapped around the ankle to hold the shoes securely in place. Traditional espadrilles are worn by both men and women.
Both in Argentina and Uruguay, espadrilles (known as alpargatas) were adopted by rural workers as a substitute for the "bota de potro", part of the traditional gaucho attire, made with leather from the lower leg of the horse. Unlike other clothing, the espadrille became an essential garment for both sexes but, above all, the inseparable companion of thebombachas (knickerbockers). In the first half of the 20th century, the use of espadrilles was so common among the lower classes of the population that the company calledFábrica Argentina de Alpargatas took great importance, which used to be promoted with the artisticalmanacs illustrated byFlorencio Molina Campos. In 1943 and 1944, the student movement opposed to Perón began to use the slogan: "No a la dictadura de las alpargatas" ("No to espadrilles' dictatorship") which was in turn responded by theperonists: "alpargatas sí, libros, no" ("espadrilles, yes, books, no").[10]
Oncepeasantfootwear, then urban workers' footwear, espadrilles have grown in popularity, especially in the French Atlantic coast of the Basque Country and Spanish Mediterranean coast from Granada to Girona, where many men and women wear them during the spring and summer months. Designer espadrilles are now widely available. They are usually manufactured in Spain, France, and South Asia. Modern espadrilles are predominantly for women, though some men's shoes are made in this style.
The soles of espadrilles may be flat, platform, or wedge shaped made ofnatural fiber. Uppers may be made from nearly any substance and may have open or closed toes, open or closed backs, and can be slip-on or tied to the ankle with laces. Thousands of varieties of espadrilles can be found, from inexpensive bargain brands to high priced designer brands.
Espadrilles became fashionable in the United States in the 1940s.Lauren Bacall's character in the 1948 movieKey Largo wore ankle-laced espadrilles.
Wedge-shaped espadrilles were first popularized by French fashion designerYves Saint Laurent. At a trade fair in Paris in 1970, he came into contact with the Spanish espadrille manufacturerCastañer. Yves Saint Laurent had been looking in vain for months for someone to make him a wedge espadrille. Castañer managed to interpret Yves Saint Laurent's vision and the wedge espadrilles were an instant hit, influencing fashion even today.
The espadrille style was revived in the United States in the 1980s, due to the success ofMiami Vice—the shoe was worn by the characterSonny Crockett (played byDon Johnson). In 2013 at luxury shoe stores in New York City, a pair of espadrilles could cost nearly $500.[11]
Due to cost and material availability, the soles of espadrilles are now commonly made with jute rope or braid. The natural bright white color of jute is a major design feature of modern espadrilles.
Bangladesh is the producer of high quality jute and has become a manufacturing center for premium quality jute soles and complete espadrilles.[12] Ninety percent of the world's total production of complete espadrilles, as well as jute soles, is now manufactured in Bangladesh, although some manufacturers inSpain,France, andItaly import jute soles from Bangladesh to finish espadrilles in those countries. Complete espadrilles are also assembled inArgentina,Bolivia,Chile,Colombia,Paraguay andVenezuela with imported jute from Bangladesh.
Jute soles typically include fully or partiallyvulcanized (hardened) rubber beneath the jute soles for long-lasting espadrille shoes. Sometimescrepe rubber soles are used asout-soles, although they are less durable than their vulcanized counterparts. Jute braid soles might include heels made of wood orEVA foam.
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 formed into the shape of the sole andhydraulically pressed with heat to form the final shape and completed with vertical stitching with Espadrille Needles.[13] These basic soles are thenvulcanized underneath. EVA foam or woodenheels are glued in place and more jute braids are wrapped around it to complete the soles. Uppers of different styles are then built on the jute soles to complete the espadrille.
