In 1927, in the Catalan town of Banyoles, Luis Castañer and Tomás Serra opened the first workshop of the espadrille brand that today offers its products in over 50 countries.
Castañer has become one of Spain's most iconic fashion brands, and for good reason:
"Castañer took the espadrille from the fields and placed it on the runways of Paris."
The Origins of Castañer Espadrilles
The first Castañer espadrilles date back to 1776, when Rafael Castañer, the first espadrille maker in the family, began crafting them. With such a long history, you can imagine all that this iconic brand's legacy has gone through.
The first generation to industrialize the production process using machinery were Luis Castañer and his cousin, Tomás Serra. Tomás designed the first machines for the workshop, and they’re still in use today!
The company’s espadrilles have seen many prosperous and challenging times over the years.
During the Spanish Civil War, shoes were nationalized as they were considered a product of military interest, and soldiers were sent to the frontline wearing espadrilles.
The First Wedge Espadrilles
It was during the brand's second generation, under Lorenzo and Isabel Castañer, that the company truly took off.
In the late 1960s, the couple attended a fashion fair in Paris, where they met Yves Saint Laurent. To the Castañers' surprise, the renowned designer’s first order was for wedge espadrilles.
The request was quite extravagant and not something the workshop was accustomed to make.
But despite the departure from their traditional production, the chance to appear on Parisian runways, alongside Yves Saint Laurent, made this challenge an adventure they couldn't pass up.
Thus, the world’s first wedge espadrille was born, although it almost didn’t happen. At first, Lorenzo Castañer, who didn’t know Yves Saint Laurent, thought the idea was absurd. Fortunately for everyone, their collaboration didn’t end there.
Castañer Stores
After gracing the Paris runways, Castañer won over the world. Artists, actors, models, and many others began wearing the traditional shoe they had so carefully crafted.
Since then, Castañer espadrilles have been worn by Hollywood actresses like Grace Kelly, Scarlett Johansson, and Penélope Cruz, as well as artists like the painter Salvador Dalí.
The product spread across Europe like wildfire. The first country to show great interest was Denmark, where over 100,000 pairs were sold in just one year. This was followed by Italy, Japan, and France—not to mention their home country of Spain, of course.
Riding this wave of success, in the 1990s, Castañer opened its first standalone store in Barcelona, followed by stores in Paris, Madrid, and Tokyo. Today, they have nearly 40 stores.
Castañer has experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2022, the company increased its sales by 27%, reaching a turnover of 30 million euros.
This growth has been driven by product diversification and international expansion, with a presence in key markets across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
The Castañer espadrille makers have succeeded in infusing their products and stores with an unmistakably elegant sense of craftsmanship, beauty, and attention to detail.
At Optima Retail, we know that the store is just as important as the product. It must showcase everything the brand represents and provide an unforgettable experience for the customer.
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