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.
Notre histoire
En 2018, Marie a entamé son aventure dans la confection de sandales. En une semaine, un cordonnier lui a enseigné les bases. Elle a installé son atelier à quelques mètres de lui pour continuer à apprendre le métier. Progressivement, elle a pris son indépendance et créé sa première collection.
En 2020, nous nous sommes retrouvés confinés en Normandie (France), avec l'atelier entassé dans une petite cabane de jardin. Mais soyons honnêtes, l'espace était trop exigu, et nous aspirions à plus de soleil. Dès que les frontières ont rouvert, nous avons fait nos valises et nous sommes installés à Lisbonne pour un nouveau départ.
C'est à ce moment-là que c'est vraiment devenu une "affaire de famille". Tout d'abord, parce que nos deux enfants sont nés peu de temps après notre déménagement au Portugal. Nous avions besoin de rester concentrés, sur la même longueur d'onde. C'est pourquoi Alexandre a décidé de rejoindre le projet à plein temps. Nous étions tous investis, pour le meilleur.
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.
(Note about the illustration: in real life, our workshop is much more chaotic—but that’s where its charm lies.)
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.