It’s hard to believe that the first flat sandals were born around 3000 years before Jesus Christ! However, it was during this era that the Egyptians invented them, crafted from papyrus fiber, to protect themselves from the heat of the sand. Today, their function remains almost the same, except that they have acquired a true fashion dimension that their ancestors did not know. Because they have become as essential as swimwear to our vacation wardrobe, here is an overview of the most beautiful flat sandal brands to know.
K.Jacques:
Launched by the couple Jacques and Elise Keklikian, this label celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2023! Born from a tradition passed down through generations, K.Jacques sandals continue today to be made in workshops just a stone’s throw from the port of Saint-Tropez. Here, there is no question of succumbing to the sirens of trends, it is simplicity and timelessness that prevail and that make the brand’s reputation, whose small shop in Saint-Tropez is always busy. Among the famous fans of K.Jacques sandals, we can mention the undisputed icon of the French Riviera, Brigitte Bardot, as well as Romy Schneider and Jean Cocteau.
Ancient Greek Sandals:
Conceived as an ode to Greek mythology and all the vocabulary that derives from it, the brand Ancient Greek Sandals, piloted by the duo Christina Martini and Nikolas Minoglou, focuses mainly on flat sandals, combining comfort, ancestral know-how and creativity. A fashion dimension that is coupled with an eco-friendly approach since each pair of sandals is handcrafted in Greece from leather dyed using a natural process, not harmful to the environment. Among the brand’s loyal customers? Gigi Hadid and Beyoncé.
Loeffler Randall:
This Brooklyn-based brand just celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. It’s known for its comfortable sandals as well as its delicate handbags, all handcrafted in the Big Apple. While the brand was conceived on the American coasts, it draws inspiration from European culture. This is particularly evident in the refined details and original designs. The eponymous creator also makes it a point of honor to manufacture these shoes in the most eco-responsible way possible, in Tuscany, by favoring vegetable tanning, recycled plastic or GOTS-certified cotton, but also the local and traditional know-how of this region of Italy.
St. Agni:
It’s along the beaches of Byron Bay, Australia, that the St. Agni label was born. Here, there is little fantasy: it’s timelessness and comfort that dominate, with a proudly assumed influence for the minimalism of the 90s.
Amanu:
Advocating craftsmanship, Amanu partners with different communities around the world (from Kenya to Los Angeles) to handcraft its sandals to last a lifetime. We particularly love their minimalist and easy-to-wear aesthetic and their beautiful details like chic gold accents.
Aeyde:
Flashback to 2015. That’s the year when the creative tandem formed by Luisa Dames and Constantin Langholz-Baikousis decided to found their own label: Aeyde. Behind this poetic name hides a beautiful symbolism, as it is intended to be a tribute to the creators’ grandparents. In terms of footwear, Aeyde focuses on a sleek and minimalist aesthetic, nineties details, a refined color palette, a sense of finish and detail that is very precise. A whole program, made in a family-run factory in Italy. Since then, the young German brand has been steadily establishing itself in the fashion sphere and has already been adopted by a handful of high-profile girls, including Camille Charrière, who infused her Frenchy style into a capsule collection in 2020.
Soludos:
Behind this brand that smells of summer and vacations, there is a heartwarming story: that of a group of friends passionate about travel who seek to create pairs of sandals that meet many criteria (to be worn both at the beach and in the city, comfortable, elegant…). This is how they initially imagined espadrilles. Quickly followed by pairs of flip-flops or flat sandals. What do they all have in common? The soles are all entirely made of natural jute and are made by artisans in Spain or Italy.
Birkenstock:
Do we really need to introduce Birkenstock, seeing as they have become so democratized on everyone’s feet? Carried by the quiet luxury trend, it’s impossible to walk around the city in the summer without seeing them on someone’s feet. The German brand owes its undisputed success to its flexible insole that makes the sandals so comfortable.
Roger Vivier:
From Catherine Deneuve to Sofia Loren, Marlene Dietrich, Jackie Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot (remember the famous boots in the Harley-Davidson clip!)… They all wore shoes crafted by Roger Vivier, who launched his brand in the late 1930s. His fashion signature? Elevating shoes to the rank of art, adorning them with a thousand details, such as lacework, pearls, ribbons… He is also said to be the creator of stiletto heels… Chic but always with a touch of humor, a bit retro but in step with the times… Roger Vivier shoes are still, almost 100 years later, still as popular as ever.
A.Emery:
It’s under the sun of Victoria, Australia, that the A.Emery brand was created in 2017. This very young label with timeless designs focuses on responsibility by favoring handcrafting in workshops in Dehli, using leather supplied by the Leather Working Group (LWG) NGO which promotes environmental respect in leather making.
Castaner:
It’s the undisputed reference in espadrilles: the Spanish brand Castaner, a small family business, was founded in 1927 and gained notoriety when it created the first wedge shoe with a jute sole for Yves Saint Laurent, which has become an essential item today, the Carina model. Nearly 50 years later, lace-up espadrilles, declined in neutral shades or a sparkling color palette, continue to be a fashion essential for the beautiful season.
René Caovilla:
Arguably the most pop brand on this guide, René Caovilla was founded in the heart of the sixties in Venice. Today, adored by a plethora of celebrities (Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Taylor Swift…), René Caovilla sandals, resolutely cut for the dancefloor, stand out with their rhinestones, flamboyant colors, sequined soles and straps that wind around the ankle, having become so iconic that the Cleo sandals (the brand’s flagship model) were even exhibited at the MoMA in New York.
Staud:
When the brand was founded in 2019, it was with a very precise idea: to design “the perfect sandal”. An ambitious project that relies mainly on sleek, timeless lines, but always elevated by the little detail that makes the difference, like a sparkling color palette, geometric heels or straps that dance along the ankles.
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