Manifesto
If our sandals feel different, it’s because we’ve chosen to do things differently.
It’s because in our Majorelle blue workshop in Lisbon, bathed in light, we work alongside a team of talented women who share our passion for craftsmanship and quality. Together, we transform each artisan gesture into a unique creation.
It’s because we use machines from the last century, lovingly restored with patience and dedication, to give each pair its distinctive character.
It’s because we carefully select bold and original leathers, paired with soles and linings that are always vegetable-tanned, ensuring materials that age beautifully over time.
And it’s because we’ve embraced limited production: no more than 3,000 pairs leave our workshop each year.
At Mama Praia, every sandal is an invitation to walk differently, designed for those who seek the rare, the unique, and the beautiful.
About us
It all began in 2018, when Marie learned the basics of sandal-making from a local shoemaker. Driven by curiosity and creativity, she set up her first workshop just a few meters away to refine her technique. A few months later, the first Mama Praia collection was born — handmade, colorful, and full of character.
Fast forward to 2020: during the lockdown in Normandy, France, the workshop was crammed into a tiny garden shed. Sharing the space with peacocks was charming, but let’s face it—not exactly a long-term solution. So, as soon as the borders reopened, we packed our bags and headed to Lisbon, a place that felt like the perfect canvas to unleash our creativity.
And here’s where the story truly became a family affair. Shortly after arriving in Portugal, our two children were born, grounding us in this new chapter. It was also the moment Alexandre decided to join Mama Praia full-time. With his knack for restoring old machines—a blend of ingenious tinkerer and tech enthusiast—he’s been instrumental in giving new life to our equipment and driving the activity forward. Today, in a former taxi garage turned sunny atelier, everything is made in-house, from first sketch to finished pair.
Our iconic Fisherman sandal is now stocked in beautiful concept stores like Le Bon Marché, and worn by inspiring women like Vic Montanari and Blanca Miró — along with thousands of incredible women around the world who seek out rare, soulful pieces.
Each pair is made in small batches, for those who value character over convention.
Craft work
Just seven years ago, we knew nothing about leather. Gradually, we learned the techniques and the gestures. Saddle stitching. Edge dyeing. Embossing. As much vocabulary as there were things to learn. It's often said that it takes a lifetime to become an artisan. Well, that's just fine with us because we love this craft so much that we won't ever have to change it.
Exceptional leathers
The leathers we work with come from the finest European tanneries, chosen with care for their quality and character. Many are vegetable-tanned using natural chestnut extracts, giving them a rich, evolving patina that only gets better with time. And here’s the beauty of it: no aluminum, no chrome salts—just leather that feels as good as it looks, for you, for us, and for the planet.