Process of creating espadrille handmade soles

The process of handmade hemp soles

Description of the process from combing and braiding of the hemp or jute tow, to the warping and sewing of the soles.

To make hemp or jute soles, hemp or jute "tow" is used, which is "combed" to remove splinters and impurities, but not as much as if it were to be spun, since in excess it would be less comfortable (and would unnecessarily make the sole expensive).

Once the "tow" is clean, a braid is made by hand, in a uniform manner, and in the necessary thickness for the sole. With this braid, doubled, measure the length corresponding to each "size" and tie itself in such a way that it continues inside the circle, filling in a decreasing spiral but reducing the smaller circles so that one part has more braid that the other one and thus the part that is in front of the foot will be wider; This is the "warping" process.

Once hatched, only the stitching remains, the hardest and most characteristic part of the process. A very polished hemp thread ( thin cord) is used (yes, without tow, and a bit waxed), and along espadrille needle (also known as "almaráz"), with the eye near the tip and a thick wooden handle, which used to change shape according to where it was made, that must be comfortable to grip with force, although wide enough to push hard.

This almaráz must cross the sole to be able to pass the thread of hemp by the eye and to pull of it with force once it crosses the outsole to the width, to compress the sole until leaving it sufficiently compact.