What you need to know about 88-year-old Spanish footwear label Castaner, whose pieces are artisanal and handmade. 

This Brand Has Been Making Espadrilles For 88 Years And Theyre Now Here In Singapore 1

Think of Castaner as the Loewe equivalent of rope-soled footwear. Founded in 1927 by Luis Castaner and his cousin Tomas Serra (the family still runs the brand), the Spanish label has earned cool fans (Salvador Dali!) and collaborators (Hermes, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent) with its artisanal know-how.

Every pair is made the traditional way: Jute thread is reeled and dyed, before being braided to create the sole using a machine Luis Castaner designed back in the ’20s. The label applies jute soles to nearly every shoe style, from wedge sandals to slip-ons. The soles are then vulcanised with rubber for added support, before every part of the shoe is hand-stitched together – the human touch means shoes that are more flexible and, in turn, comfortable.

This month, the label opens its first standalone store in South-east Asia at Ngee Ann City (#03-14). Debuting in the 680 sq ft space: the S/S ’15 collection that’s inspired by the Memphis movement (lots of graphic patterns) and ’50s beachwear (nautical stripes and hues). From $215-$695

An adapted version of this story first appeared in Female‘s April issue, out on newsstands now.