Espadrilles make a wonderful summer shoe. They can be dressed up or down easily, come in tons of colors and patterns, and are fun without being too fun. Yet, the world of espadrilles seems to be divided into two camps. You have the super cheap and inexpensive options that fall apart right as you begin really liking them (these are usually between $15 - $30), and you have the absurdly expensive options that have suede uppers, all sorts of fancy designs, and would simply never do for a day at the beach (these can be anywhere from $95 to $400).
Now, while I think the latter options have their place, I also have a very hard time spending anywhere near that kind of money for a shoe made out of rope. Plus, I think the ideal espadrille is made from canvas, has a clean, rounded toe, and should be just as at-home by the pool as with trousers and some knitwear. And the price should be no more than a couple $20s.
I have searched for such an espadrille high and low. I have seen things that come close, but nothing ever ticks all the boxes. That is, until I found La Manual Alpargatera by happenstance in someone’s Instagram post I now cannot remember. They come in a bunch of colors and patterns, have the perfect shape, and look the part in every way. What sets them apart is their constriction. It is made using the usual rope, but has nicely reinforced soles made with rubber. The canvas used is also very sturdy compared to lower end versions, and, in all, these feel and wear much closer to those $100 espadrilles than a $15 pair. In my experience, their sizing runs a bit small, but I think most people could get away with both the smaller and larger size within their range, so use your typical US to EU conversion methodology.
Are they perfect? No. I find the vamp to be a bit low for my taste, and I am also torn on the padded insole. While on the one hand they are much more comfortable and supportive than a typical espadrille, I also like the feeling of rope soles in an espadrille and find that to be part of the experience. So, again, I am torn on that piece.
But otherwise, as far as I have seen, these truly tick all the boxes. They look great, feel great, and are solidly constructed. I have been wearing mine for a few weeks now and they look as good as the day I bought them despite not at all being precious with them (which is the whole point!). Are the cheap? No. But they are $50 with the way the Euro is converting now, and even with shipping costs at about $25 they are still cheaper than any other espadrille this well-made that I have seen. Plus they look better than those other ones also and are made from a solid cotton-canvas as opposed to suede or something of that ilk. Plus, if your order 2-3 pairs the cost per shoe is lower. Finally, their site is a bit a bit of a stylish nightmare to navigate, but I have faith you’ll figure it out. Go forth and enjoy the summer in the best espadrilles around!
(Side note: I know those that travel to Europe can hop into most convenience stores and buy a pair of cheap, decently made espadrilles that look and feel somewhat better than these. BUT, not all of us travel like that, ahem, and even those tend to fall apart quite quickly.)