The Espadrilles Experience
Welcome to one of the most unique experiences in the world!
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About Us
Hello!
This is Luis and Kathe, the founders and artisans of HANDMADE® THE BRAND!
We have been making shoes for many years, in our local family-owned factories. HANDMADE® is an ethical brand from Cataluña, Spain, selling traditional shoes made by hand.
The Espadrilles Experience is something that we are proud of. We teach people all around the world everything they need to know about Espadrilles.
Thanks to many great reviews, Airbnb ranked the experience as one of the Top 10% Experiences Worldwide while Tripadvisor rated it as Traveler’s Choice in 2021 and 2023.
We host both in-person and online experiences.
The in-person Espadrilles Workshop
Discover the art of traditional Spanish shoemaking with a hands-on workshop!
Here, you’ll have the opportunity to create your very own traditional Spanish espadrilles. Our skilled artisans will guide you through the process, providing all the materials and tools you need.
You’ll get to choose the size of the base, the color of the laces, and the style you prefer. Once you’ve made your selections, you’ll stitch your own traditional espadrilles, and we’ll show you the different ways to lace them up. With over 100K different combinations, get ready for a fun and exciting challenge!
When you’re finished, you’ll leave with your very own personalized creation and a unique story to tell your friends. This is a rare opportunity for visitors and locals alike to create a wearable memory.
The online Espadrilles Workshop
Discover the art of traditional Spanish shoemaking at the comfort of your home!
Our virtual workshop in Barcelona is a unique and special place where you will feel immersed in the world of espadrilles. In this experience, you will learn about the fascinating history of these beautiful shoes and the materials needed for their construction.
Every guest will have the opportunity to choose the size of the base, the color and materials, and the style of stitching. With the guidance of our expert artisans, you will create the espadrilles of your dreams. We will stitch them LIVE, following your instructions. You’ll be amazed as you watch your shoes come to life right before your eyes!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we will ship your one-of-a-kind creation to your home with free worldwide shipping.
More than 1000 reviews
Written by Amber on Airbnb
“This experience was incredible! Luis and Kathy were so knowledgeable about the history of Espadrilles and you could feel the passion when they were storytelling. Their enthusiasm and humor made the experience really fun, and they were extremely diligent in ensuring our designs would be perfect. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone!”
Written by Joel on Tripadvisor
“The best part, other than being with my peers and having a great time, was Luis and Kathe! The two of them together helping you build your custom shoes was such a fun time. I loved hearing the history of the shoes and the shoemaking process. I would recommend this experience to anyone, especially for a company team-building event. It was virtual, but certainly didn’t feel that way!”
Written by Tina on Maps
“I have to say, Luis and his are fantastic. I have done 2 workshops and have order a few pair of custom shoes. The shoes: they are amazing quality! They are extremely comfortable! I love espadrilles… There was absolutely to ‘breaking in’ time at all. It was like these shoes were make for my feet. The team: Courteous, professional, friendly, fair, timeliness in communication.”
Book your place today:
Directly with us
Airbnb
Tripadvisor
Viator
Private Corporate Events
Join us for a memorable teambuilding experience! With more than 3.000 hosted sessions, our Espadrille workshop is a must-do for teams visiting Barcelona, Seville or San Juan. Led by local artisans fluent in English, our 2-hour workshop combines culture and shoe-making while enjoying tapas and cava. Each participant will leave with a custom-made pair of traditional espadrilles. Contact us to book now, prices start at €89.90 per person and we can host groups of up to 150 people.
Written by Larisa, Dec 2020
“What a fun, engaging, and unique experience – and on top of that, you get authentic, handmade, beautiful espadrilles! Our corporate team had just finished a long strategy day and honestly was not looking forward to being online for another hour, but Luis and Kathe were incredible hosts – we were entranced and laughing the whole time! We also really appreciated the storytelling and history, and how they would engage every single person on our team. If we thought we were tired it was only 5pm our time, and it was 2am their time – so impressive. In terms of the logistics, it was seamless and easy.”
Written by Julius, Nov 2020
Our group loved this experience!! Some of the feedback we received: “Absolutely loved this experience! The amount of energy from the hosts, being able to make this experience interactive, while also giving a history lesson on the espadrilles was so fun!” “+1! Learned so much and loved their enthusiasm! ❤ (and their willingness to send handmade shoes all the way from Barcelona! haha)” “It was such a wonderful way to spend the day and I loved learning about the history of the shoes that we’re about to receive and enjoy. “
Written by Chirstine, Oct 2020
“Espadrille event hosts were amazing! They did a great job calling on people by name to get everyone involved. I liked how engaging and entertaining the hosts for the espadrilles were. I also liked how the group was small enough that we could see everyone’s faces on zoom and the hosts were good about calling on people to participate. I appreciated that they were very helpful and good about answering people’s questions along the way.”
Our Traction in Numbers
