Panier Escadrille Paris

ESPADRILLE WEDGES ALWAYS LOOK GREAT

If you trace the origins of espadrille shoes back in time, you’ll find that our ancestors were already wearing them at least 4,000 years ago – as proven by the Andalusian skeleton found still wearing them. The shoe’s name sounds like it comes from southern France, and in fact it appears that it comes from the Occitan word espardi(l)hos, meaning “Spartan sandals”, undoubtedly a reference to the ancient Greek land. Given Sparta’s reputation for warfare, it’s understandable that the greatest armies wore these shoes. And that is how the soldiers of King Peter II of Aragon purportedly came to wear espadrille shoes to launch attacks in the 13th century.

Espadrilles gained a footing in the Béarn region and Basque Country in the 18th century. Today, French-made espadrilles are the work of experienced hemp weavers, who make the soles. The linen canvas uppers, meanwhile, are the product of skilled seamstresses. The success of this lightweight shoe is legendary, spanning continents and oceans all the way to South America. The shoe’s greatest qualities are its lightness, simplicity, and a sole designed to let your feet breathe, made even sturdier with the addition of rubber in the 1920s. Espadrilles then became a symbol of summer vacations, adopting a variety of colors. Even great couturiers like Yves Saint Laurent embraced them. They diversified into a fashionable type of shoe that was an essential accessory for hip parties.

At Escadrille, we’re continuing the espadrille’s long history by offering revisited designs. Our collections include espadrille wedges to give you some extra height and elegance, with the added benefit of a unique, stable wedge sole. We have a wide range of both materials and colors to make sure you can find the espadrille wedges that suit you.