espadrilles espardenyes alpagatas women ladies handmade by espadril

The History of Espadrilles and other interesting facts

What about a bit of history about our favorite type of shoe? Let's learn about the past of espadrilles and the etymology of the word.

What does "espadrilles" mean?

Espadrille in French or alpargatas in Spanish are footwear with sole made of Jute or fiber rope like material from a plant. It is usually flat, platform or wedge high heeled shoes with flexible sole protected with rubber.

Is "espadrilles" a Spanish word?

Espadrille is a French word which derives from Occitan language espardenya or esparteƱa in Spanish. It refers to a type of shoes made of tough fiber used in making rope.

How do you pronounce "espadrilles"?

In English, the word espadrille is phonetically transcribed as it follows /espəĖˆdrÉŖl/ and the best way to nail its pronunciation is precisely by dividing the sounds into three syllables: [ESP] + [UH] + [DRIL]

Are espadrilles Spanish in origin?

Espadrilles originated in Spain. They were first discovered in the Occitania and Catalonia areas of the Pyrenees, on the Spanish and French borders. Espadrilles were also the footwear for Cataloniaā€™s traditional dance and they also had a contribution to Basque culture since the King of Aragonā€™s soldiers wore them too.

Who invented espadrilles?

The very first espadrille was recorded from Occitania region in France back in 13th century. It was later on popularized by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent who was looking for a new design of wedge and his vision became an instant hit even today.

Who sells espadrilles?

Espadrilles are usually handcrafted by high skilled artisans in countries like Spain but nowadays they are sold almost everywhere in the world. You can now check different types and brands of espadrilles online and they can also be found at both affordable stores and signature brands.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.