About Mama Praïa : Handmade Sandals from Lisbon
Handmade.
Under the sun.
Revista Observador, photo by Mariana Alvarez Cortes
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 metres away to refine her technique. A few months later, the first Mama Praïa collection was born: handmade, colourful, and full of character.
Fast forward to 2020: during lockdown in Normandy, the workshop moved into a tiny garden shed, shared with peacocks. Charming, but not exactly a long-term plan. As soon as borders reopened, we packed our bags and headed to Lisbon.
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 Praïa full-time. With his knack for restoring old machines, a blend of ingenious tinkerer and tech enthusiast, he has been instrumental in giving new life to our equipment and driving the activity forward.
Today, in a former taxi garage turned sunny atelier, we work alongside a team of talented women who bring their skill and care to every single pair. Worn by inspiring women like Vic Montanari and Blanca Miró, and stocked in concept stores like Le Bon Marché, our sandals find their way to women around the world who seek out rare, soulful pieces.
From the finest European tanneries
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.
No aluminium, no chrome salts, just leather that feels as good as it looks, for you, for us, and for the planet.
Walking
differently.
If our sandals feel different, it's because we've chosen to do things differently. Everything is made in-house, by hand, to order. We have a limited production capacity, and we intend to keep it that way.