THE ESSENTIAL TAN SANDAL

138 $

Read 146 reviews
5/5

Casual elegance holds no secrets for l'Essentielle, perfectly mixing the chic of an exquisite leather with the sobriety of the lines. We love this model for the ease with which it can be worn with everything.

 

  • Handmade in Biarritz by me
  • Excellent ankle support with the adjustable strap
  • Handmade leather work: rounding and sanding of the sharp edges of the straps to fit the foot smoothly
  • A vegetable tanned leather (chemical free) from France with an incomparable shine. Water resistant
  • Leather insole for a high level of comfort
  • 3 cm jute sole with rubber heel reinforcement
  • 30 day warranty on the seams

 

Sizing

I you have thin or normal feet, I'd recommend you order your usual size.

If you are in-between sizes, please order the next size up. If you have very narrow or wide feet,  please contact me for tailored-made service.

Description

The problem with espadrille

Before creating Atelier Aliénor, I never wore espadrilles. Being born in the sunny south, they are part of our culture! I didn't find them flattering on my feet and I was desperately looking for more discreet materials than colored canvas. Not to mention the rope that would hurt the foot...

So for years, I turned to leather sandals. Except that most of the time, sandals are made with a very rigid leather that hurts the foot.

That's why I wanted to reinterpret the famous Basque shoe to create an espadrille that is both comfortable and elegant, arousing envy in a simple glance.

The shape, the choice of materials and colors, while making the promise of an incredible comfort... I had to review all this to make you start the summer on the right foot! 

DESIGN

Timeless and minimalist

A highly desirable espadrille that goes with everything, with a minimalist spirit that focuses on the material.

Our espadrilles are embellished with beautiful materials so that you can wear them with jeans or a dress, on vacation or in the city.

QUALITY

A refined French leather

The beauty of leather is essential to enhance the creative vision and the work of the hand. The exceptional leather comes from one of the most famous French tanneries.

It has been tanned with hot oils for 6 generations, which gives it a great suppleness and an incomparable shine. Thus, the leather will not harden with time. It is so thick that it will not stretch but will develop a beautiful patina. 

SUSTAINABILITY

Conscious production

The secret of a product that lasts lies in the choice of materials... and its manufacture.

I only work with natural materials of good quality and controlled origin. The tanneries I work with are labelled Leather Working Group. The label guarantees that their production processes are respectful of the environment and animal welfare.

Our leather is a by-product of the food industry.

A leather insole

I added a leather insole on top of the natural jute outsole: no irritation , and breathable shoes.

A supple, hand-worked leather

To fully enjoy the suppleness of the leather, I work the edges of the straps by hand. They are rounded and sanded before applying a tinted rubber to soften the slices and not to hurt the foot.

Because your health matters to us

The leather of the insole and liner is in direct contact with your skin and contains zero chemicals. It is a leather tanned exclusively with plants (extracts of quebracho, mimosa, chestnut). 

It means no risks of allergies or other skin problems.

You're not only wearing a pair of espadrilles...

Together, we protect a precious know-how.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE

If you have a normal foot, I advise you to choose your usual size.

If you are in-between sizes, I invite you to order the next size up.

The leather has been treated with oils to make it resistant to water and surface stains. Simply massage the leather to remove them.

However, I advise you to take care of it by applying a cream to waterproof, nourish and soften the leather.

The use of leather by sustainable brand is controversial.

I know that for many people, the question of animal suffering is the most important one.

I respect the values of everyone but I'd like to explain why we use leather. 

Shoe is the item that is the most challenged. After a few years of experience, the material that appeared to be the most robust was leather. Unfortunately, I'm sure many of you experienced having a hole in the front of your espadrille made of canvas after one season (the big toe usually tears the fabric).

Leather is solid enough to be worn often, is waterproof, breathable, absorbs humidity and odours while being comfortable.

Sourcing leather is crucial. We only work with French tanneries and an Italian tannery for golden leather.They are all a member of the Leather Working Group. This label guaranties that the leather is tanned in compliance with sustainable practices. 

The leather I use is vegetable tanned, using extracts of quebracho, mimosa, chestnut. It is the most sustainable practices that exists today.

I craft all of our espadrilles à la main dans mon atelier de Biarritz.

I select the most beautiful parts of the skin and then cut the leather out with tools. Then, I work the leather by hand before sewing it to the rope sole.

I learnt this know-how thanks to one of the last family-owned workshop in the south west of France.I worked with them during 5 years.

The natural jute sole is made in a small workshop in the Basque Country.

It is hard to answer this question since a lot things impact the wear of your espadrilles.

It depends of the frequency you wear them, how you walk, your feet morphology...

But one thing that is sure is that we broke down every parts to select the best materials and making processes.

An espadrille well made with high quality materials can be worn several seasons without any doubts!

And if the soles wear out, don't throw them away! I'll be able to resole them.

As we want you to be completely satisfied with your espadrilles, we will accept your return of product in new and unused condition within 14 days for a refund in the original form of payment.

To ship your item(s) back to Atelier Aliénor, please follow the steps:

- Send us an email at contact@atelieralienor.com and let us know why you’d like to return your order.

- Put the shoes in new and unused condition into their original box.

All steps are detailed here.

And if you have any additional questions, just send me an email at contact@atelieralienor.com

You don't need to go anywhere to return your order. Just contact DHL to schedule a pick up... And simply give your parcel to the delivery man or leave it in your mailbox.

That's it!

SHIPPING & EASY RETURNS

SHIPPING

Domestic and UE orders are shipped via Colissimo. Shipping for one pair will cost €8 for France and €12 for EU countries.

International orders are shipped via DHL and shipping takes about 3 to 5 business days.

Shipping for one pair is $55.

If you live in the US, no customs will apply for orders below $800 🙂

EASY RETURNS & EXCHANGE

 

You don't need to go anywhere to return your order. ... And simply give your parcel to the delivery man or leave it in your mailbox.

The return shipping fee will automatically be deducted from your refund. It will be the same amount you paid for shipping at checkout.

If you'd like to exchange your espadrilles, please return your pair and place a new order.

They talk about us

Avec le concours financier de la Région

Additional information

Weight 2 kg
Dimensions 11.75 × 5.5 × 4 cm
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