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
In 2018, Marie began her journey into sandal-making. Over the course of a week, a shoemaker shared the basics with her. Eager to dive deeper, she set up her first workshop just a few meters away from him to refine her craft. With time, she gained confidence and created her very first collection.
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 the project 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.
Our new workshop, a former taxi parking, is where everything now comes to life. The once utilitarian space has been transformed into a haven of creativity, filled with light, laughter, and the hum of tools. Together, we’ve poured our energy into crafting pieces that carry not only our story but also the charm of where they’re made
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.