Built on the notion that less is more, ESSEN is so often informed by minimalist design principles. A study of balance and careful restraint, our permanent collection aims to fuse this sensibility with time-honoured techniques and the artistry of generational craftsmen.

BEHIND THE DESIGN

In our world, every design is conceived with great intention and led by the desire to fill a need in the modern woman’s wardrobe. Both the Strappy Sandal and the Evening Sandal were born from the search for the perfect barely-there shoe; one that was comfortable and worked with existing pieces in our wardrobes. Bound by architectural lines, a subtle square toe and our signature memory foam padded sole, the Strappy Sandal and Evening Sandal offer a contemporary take on refined elegance.

CONSCIOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP

Both the Strappy and the Evening Sandal’s are crafted in our Le Marche workshop. Le Marche is a historical Italian region regarded as the world’s oldest and finest shoe manufacturing district since 1901. It’s here that we work with a community of skilled suppliers whose expertise has been passed from generation to generation. Working locally with family-run factories and resident craftsmen enables us to manage our carbon footprint, ensuring we only ever make what we need.



Having sourced the materials from neighbouring regions, once the leather, trims and additional components have arrived at the workshop the true craftsmanship begins. Franco’s team each brings specialised skills to the shoemaking process, meticulously crafting delicate yet durable straps. The simplest details are often the most challenging and it’s through recognising that no two feet are alike that the Strappy and Evening Sandal’s straps have been designed to be flat on the sides, allowing them to be stretched up to a full size and mould to each customer’s unique foot shape. Once crafted, each leather strap is carefully positioned to the millimetre to elongate the leg and firmly hold the foot in place - a practice our artisans go to great lengths to ensure is precise. The sandals are then cleaned and packaged, ready to become a life-long wardrobe staple for one of our lovely customers.

STYLE NOTES

Versatility is the driving force behind each ESSEN creation. Inspired by a woman’s day-to-day realities (as a working mother herself) ESSEN’s founder Marre is firmly focused on effortless essentials that balance design, interesting details and comfort. “To me, comfort is luxury so I focus on easy elegance with support and comfort at its core,” says Marre.



To complement the clean-line style of each design comes the Drop Earring. Handcrafted from premium recycled materials, these earrings were  purpose-designed to work as both an jewellery piece and an adornment on each of these styles. This styling cue is an easy shortcut to effortlessly elevating a relaxed look while making your wardrobe investments work harder. Whether paired with the Drop Earring or worn on their own, the Strappy Sandal and the Evening Sandal promise to enhance your everyday style and maximise the styling potential of your closet favourites.