An authentic espadrille workshop from Barcelona
La Manual was the first espadrilles workshop in Barcelona that made fashion espadrilles. Up to twenty years after that, we were the only company that dared to wear espadrille shoes to the world of fashion.
Years later some others (as in the seventies), start to do it too. Now all kinds of people consider espadrilles as a very fashionable piece.
What is La Manual?
La Manual Alpargatera is the last authentic espadrille workshop still creating handmade espadrilles in the city of Barcelona. It started just after the civil war combining an ancient craft tradition with cutting-edge trends in fashion of the time.
We still make espadrilles for the traditional Gala Catalan police (dress uniform).
La Manual was previously located near the Cathedral del Mar. Today the espadrille workshop, located at Avinyo 7, is decorated with a delightful collection of traditional materials arranged according to the functionality of that era.
Customers find the espadrilles so comfortable that we still have vintage espadrilles models from 40's and 50's that remain as some of our best sellers today. In our espadrille shop you can buy espadrilles for women, comfortable espadrilles for men, and beautiful and easy to wear espadrilles for kids.
The facade of the espadrille workshop became one of the most characteristic symbols of our City. Over time, the storefront design has been so symbolic that a customer who didn't know our address sent a letter with a drawing of the storefront and it still arrived! (This was before Google!)
La Manual Alpargatera, is the last espadrille workshop creating handmade espadrilles in Barcelona.
Today, it is a must stop for travelers in Barcelona and a preferred choice by locals as the espadrilles are comfortable, classic and authentic. We can support these words after having received numerous international awards and being featured in prestigious fashion and lifestyle magazine like Vogue and Elle to name a few.
