Top 10+ Spanish Shoe Brands: Best Shoemakers In Spain & Their History

1. Idrese Custom Shoes

Offering customisable Goodyear-welted shoes that you can design yourself for less than $300, Idrese is a promising and ambitious new brand. Founded by Jawad Malik when he was just 21 years old, he dream was to offer affordable style and quality.

All the shoes and boots are made with nothing less than high-quality full-grain leather from the Almansa workshop. Furthermore, there is a rich selection of sizes and widths that cater to even the smallest and largest feet.

2. Carmina [Mallorca]

An celebrated shoemaker based in Spain’s renowned Balearic island, Carmina’s story began in 1866 with Matias Pujadas when he opened a small workshop in Inca. Here, he began a crafting bespoke shoes, which launched a family tradition and six-generation legacy.

By 1905, his son Mateo opened one of Mallorca’s first Goodyear-welted shoe factories. Two more generations later in the 1960s and José Albaladejo Pujadas opened one of the most significant shoe companies in Spain.

However, José Albaladejo Pujadas didn’t establish Carmina until 1997. With his wife and sons, they returned to Mallorca to launch a brand that focused on premium hand-crafted shoes.

Today, Carmina is representative of Spain’s shoemaking craftsmanship and is revered around the world. Their ready-to-wear shoes begin at $315 with prices reaching in the thousands for their exotic leather specimens.

Furthermore, they have true made-to-order services as well as models that you can customise online from $585.

3. Magnanni

Founded by Sebastian Blanco in 1954, Magnanni continues to operate in Almansa as a three-generation family business. Indeed, today it is run by not one but all six his grand-children who oversea every step of the factory’s production.

One of Magnanni’s signature features is the hand-stitched “Artesano” sole. It can be recognised thanks to its distinctive double-needle stitch, and is a technique that requires years for an apprentice to master.

Finally, Magnanni is particularly proud of its hand-patina finishes, which were born from Luis and Miguel Blanco’s own creative colour theories. As a result, each shoe has a unique finish thanks to their exquisite technique.

4. Cobbler Union

Daniel Porcelli, the co-founder of Cobbler Union, got his start in the world of dress shoes at what he describes as the pinnacle of the industry – as the CEO of a bespoke shoemaker in Spain. Yet, his passion for luxury men’s shoes developed much earlier as he built his personal footwear collection.

In 2014, armed with his experience & passion, Porcelli set out to make the bespoke aesthetic & top-tier leather accessible in a ready-to-wear model. Nearly 10 years later, he’s been largely successful, with Cobbler Union now selling in dozens of countries and an ever-growing community standing behind them.

The brand’s growth has not led them astray from their roots, though. The bespoke influence remains evident throughout Cobbler Union’s designs, many of which boast slim silhouettes, hand-burnished calfskin uppers, beveled waists, and even quilted heel cups. The refined nature of Cobbler Union’s footwear is palpable at a glance and one which you’ll be hard-pressed to get elsewhere at this price point.

5. Morjas

While based in Stockholm, Sweden, Morjas’ selection of Goodyear-welted dress shoes is handcrafted exclusively in Almansa, Spain. Likewise, their espadrilles, leather belts, and small leather accessories are also produced by artisans in the Mediterranean country.

Morjas’ focus on precision, premium-quality materials, and time-tested construction are evident throughout their core collection, which itself is composed of largely traditional dress shoe designs. Nevertheless, the brand’s unique Scandinavian influence comes to the forefront in Morjas’ trainer and Alpine boot collections, the latter of which you can admire in the image above.

6. Ramon Cuberta

Although Ramon Cuberta started life as an architect, shoemaking was in his blood. Not only did he spend much of his childhood visiting his great aunt’s shoe shop but his uncle produced traditional Catalan shoes.

Therefore, he joined a master shoemaker course in 2009 despite being in his late thirties. After working in the shoe industry for a number of years, he launched his own brand in 2014. At first, this was in a shared workshop. However, early success allowed him to establish his own showroom in northern Barcelona.

Today, Ramon Cuberta specialises in fully bespoke shoes and recently complemented this with a made-to-measure service. Nevertheless, he has recently introduced a ready-to-wear range that can be perused from his showroom.

7. Justin FitzPatrick Shoes

Among shoe enthusiasts, Justin FitzPatrick may be better known as The Shoe Snob, a renowned blogger who specialises in footwear. After graduating from business school, Justin left Seattle and headed to Italy.

In 2008, he became an apprentice for the late Stefano Bemer before polishing shoes for Gieves & Hawkes on Savile Row. Five years later, Justin established his own shoe brand.

Founded by an Italian-trained American living in London, FitzPatrick Shoes are made in Spain near Valencia. Furthermore, the shoes are made using Goodyear welts with styles based on slightly modified Gaziano Girling lasts. The result is a veritably multicultural shoe brand.

8. Taft Clothing

Taft is a family-run, Utah-based brand that was founded by Kory and Mallory Stevens. Although they only launched their brand in 2013, it has quickly garnered a cult following for its radically eccentric yet elegant shoe and boot styles.

All their footwear is passionately crafted in a family-owned workshop in Almansa, a picturesque town near Valencia in southern Spain. Despite their competitive price points, the shoes are made using traditional construction methods such as the Blake stitch or Goodyear welt.

Similarly, only premium leathers are used such as box calf or calfskin full-grain hides. Additionally, Taft are renowned for marrying unconventional materials. For instance, their boots will often feature exciting designs with 100% raw wool panels.

9. Norman Vilalta

At 31 years old, Argentinian corporate lawyer, Norman Vilalta, decided to leave his profession and travel to Itlay in 2004. Like Justin FitzPatrick, he studied under Stefano Bemer where he learned how handcraft shoes.

Vilalta spent the first 10 years of his career as a bespoke shoemaker and travelled the world to offer his services. Eventually, he decided to settle in Barcelona and launch a ready-to-wear shoe line.

All of Vilalta’s shoes are designed from his Barcelona workshop and bench-made in Spain using a Goodyear leather welt and hand finish. Moreover, he also offers a made-to-order service with a rich selection of customisation options.

10. Mezlan

Unlike most heritage shoemakers, Antonio Sanchez grew up in a farming family in Almansa. Although he aspired to achieve great things, he needed to financially support his family. Therefore, he set off to work as a teenager in the nearby Mezlan shoe factory.

After nine years working at the factory, he travelled to the USA to represent the brand in 1985. After presenting his samples at various department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, he settled down to become the sole representative of Mezlan in North America.

Some years later, Antonio Sanchez and his wife established Pacific Shoe Corporation, a company that allowed them to distribute their own creations. Eventually, he bought the Mezlan shoe factory and even purchased an Italian footwear brand, Bacco Bucci, too.

11. Carlos Santana Shoes

We’re actually quite surprised that Carlos Santana’s own shoe brand doesn’t get more love! Founded by the legendary guitarist in 2017, the brand endeavours to marry high-quality Spanish craftsmanship with a Latin American twist.

Although their budget footwear is made in India, even their premium creations offer excellent value. Most of the shoes are constructed with a Goodyear welt and feature a hand-stitched finish.

Finally, part of the proceeds from Carlos by Carlos Santana Shoes is donated to his Milagro Foundation, which provides children with healthcare and education.

12. Berwick 1707

Firstly, don’t let the number fool you as it’s a reference to the Spanish War of Succession. In fact, Berwick is a young and ambitious brand that produces quality shoes from its own factory in Almansa.

Offering excellent value for money, Berwick shoes are crafted with French calfskin with a Goodyear leather welt. Meanwhile, their premium grade shoes are produced from genuine shell Cordovan and featured oak-bark tanned leather soles.

13. Meermin [Mallorca]

An celebrated shoemaker based in Spain’s renowned Balearic island, Meermin provides affordable Goodyear-welted footwear for both men and women. Thanks to their direct-to-consumer model through their website and two boutiques, the brand is able to keep their prices radically low.

Furthermore, Meermin have introduced a group made-to-order programme for selected shoes, which provides an even wider selection of styles. However, most of their collection is ready to be ordered instantly.

In terms of pricing, ready-to-wear shoes begin as low as $180 and typically cost around $250. There are also hand-stitched variants of their core collection for an additional $110. Meanwhile, their exclusive group made-to-order shell cordovan boots pictured above will cost $470.

14. Camper

Although we’re conscious that Camper shoes are made in China and not Spain, we felt that the branded deserved mention as a bonus given its cultural significance. Indeed, Camper was founded in 1975 by Lorenzo Fluxà, the grandson of Antonio Fluxà who first introduced sewing machines on the island in 1877.

After opening its Barcelona store in 1981, Camper opened boutiques in both Paris, Milan, and New York. The brand quickly went on to be a fashion statement and began diversifying its DNA with hotel concepts, Michelin-starred restaurants.

In 2014, the head of menswear for Mugler, Romain Kremer joined Camper as its creative director. Today, all their footwear continues to be designed in Mallorca and is produced in China.