The enduring soul of Spain’s espadrille tradition

For nearly two centuries, Casa Hernanz has been crafting these simple yet iconic shoes — once the footwear of farmers and labourers, now an emblem of Spanish summer style. In an age of mass production and fleeting trends, the shop remains a rare sanctuary of patience, precision, and permanence.

From peasant shoe to cultural icon

The story of the Spanish espadrille stretches back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Early examples have been found in archaeological sites dating back more than six millennia, linking Spain’s rope-soled footwear to the earliest Mediterranean civilisations. By the 14th century, alpargatas — as they were known — had become essential for peasants working under the fierce Iberian sun.

When Toribio Hernanz opened his small Madrid workshop in 1845, the city was still semi-rural. His shoes were built for endurance, fashioned from esparto grass and cotton — affordable, breathable materials for long days in the fields. Over time, Madrid modernised, but the humble espadrille endured, evolving from a tool of necessity into a symbol of heritage.

The craft that time could not erase

Five generations later, siblings Marta and Jesús Hernanz carry that same legacy forward. “When you make something with care, it lasts — not just the product, but the respect for it,” Marta says, surrounded by the hum of customers and the smell of freshly woven soles.

The family’s philosophy has never wavered: quality before quantity. Through civil war, economic crises, and even the pandemic, Casa Hernanz stood its ground. “We had to close during COVID with no online sales, but we held on. People returned because they value authenticity,” Marta recalls.

That quiet resilience mirrors the fate of Spanish craftsmanship itself. According to data from the Ministry of Culture, more than 60% of traditional shoemakers have disappeared in recent decades. Yet Casa Hernanz continues to thrive, a beacon of slow fashion in the heart of a restless city.

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Queues, collectors, and quiet devotion

Step inside and it’s not uncommon to find queues spilling into Calle Toledo, where locals and tourists alike wait for their turn to choose from hundreds of styles. The classic canvas espadrille remains the bestseller, but intricate versions adorned with embroidery, silk, or leather attract collectors from around the world.

“It’s wonderful when families come back generation after generation,” Marta says. “Some customers remember visiting as children. Others buy ten pairs at once to take home.”

The brand’s longevity isn’t about nostalgia alone but relevance. Designers such as Castañer and Manebí have revived the espadrille for global runways, but Casa Hernanz’s handmade shoes remain the soul of the tradition, anchoring modern fashion in genuine craftsmanship.

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Balancing heritage in a digital world

Even as Casa Hernanz embraces online sales and social media, its approach resists the impersonality of e-commerce. “We want the online experience to feel as personal as visiting the shop,” Marta insists. “But we live with the fear that our generation could see this craft fade.”

That honesty defines the business — aware of modern pressures yet steadfast in purpose. In an industry chasing instant trends, Casa Hernanz’s survival is an act of quiet rebellion.

A legacy woven into Spanish identity

To walk out of Casa Hernanz with a pair of espadrilles is to carry a fragment of Spain’s cultural DNA — a tangible link between rural past and urban present. For 180 years, every stitch, sole, and knot has told the same story: one of pride, endurance, and authenticity.

And as long as the Hernanz family keeps their ropes and needles moving, Spain’s espadrille tradition will remain firmly anchored — proof that craftsmanship, when cherished, can outlast time itself.

Sources: Casa Hernanz, Wikipedia, El Español