Sunshine, Sandals & Sneak Peeks
Last week, Claire visited our manufacturing partners in Portugal again for the first time since January 2020. Let’s take a look at what she got up to. Keep your eye out for sneak peeks of new styles…
Quality in every step
I started the week by checking in on current productions, and signing off pre-production samples. It’s super important for us to check the quality of every production run before it’s approved to send.
So, you can be sure you’re getting the best quality shoes with every purchase.
Taking a look at the pre-production for our classic Cru Signature White Trainers (£149), looking good! This season we’ve also added a rainbow lace to each box, so you can switch up your kicks whenever you like.
Meetings, meetings, meetings
Next, it’s time to catch up with our lovely team over lunch.
We're proud to work exclusively with family run factories in Portugal and Spain, who are regulated under European laws.
This means we can be sure the talented craftspeople who make our shoes are looked after, just like an extension of our own team.
Choosing European partners also helps us to minimise the miles your shoes travel, and reduces our carbon footprint. We’re able to produce in smaller quantities to avoid waste, and transport them by road, not air.
Read more about our commitment to sustainability HERE.
The evolution of a new style
Back to the factories to check out some newness...
This is where we start to see a new style being formed, all the way from the seed of an idea in our London studio to the first samples. It's always SO exciting.
Once we've got a the basic idea for a new style sampled, we'll start correcting, and making comments on how to make the shoes look and feel their very best.
It's a lengthy process, and takes around a year for each style! Each shoes goes through as many sample stages as it takes for us to be sure you'll enjoy wearing them, again and again.
Here's a little sneak peek...
(A little) time to relax...
I wandered around the gorgeous old town of Guimares (near where our shoes are made), in the evening and of course finding time for an ice cream.
Sitting at a beach restaurant, I had time to write up my notes from the day and catch up on emails. It made me feel alive again to be by the sea and see the sunshine.
It's good to be back...
Visiting the factory is the most fun part of the job for me, I've missed it so much. Being hands on, and creating shoes with our fabulous Portuguese team of footwear experts.
We're super excited about lots of lovely newness coming soon, so keep your eye on our Insta for sneak peeks!
