Created from a length of antique 19th century French cotton rep (a weave with a slightly textured ribbed surface). A vibrant toile of exotic colourful birds and foliage in pinks, golds and teals on a rich aubergine ground, reminiscent of the wonderful  illustrations of the great 18th and 19th century ornithological artists ( this pair named for Peter Paillou, 1720-1790)

Embellished with 19th century French silk fringe and Lyon passamenterie braid. Finished with antique teal tassels, and removable silk satin ties.

The fabric is mounted on a soft leather inner lining. Sole and 1cm block heel are man-made.

There was sufficient fabric to make 4 pairs in total using this antique fabric, but only one other pair has this particular mismatched bird motif pairing (with different embellishments)

The ingredients Please be aware that these shoes are created from antique textiles, which have often had a previous life extending back centuries, so consequently there may be the odd minor smudge or tiny pin prick to the surface of the fabric. These in  no way impinge on their beauty, and you can be sure that they do not compromise the integrity of the material. Any little area of actual damage or thinning is repaired with a tiny embroidered patch (one of my favourite features!), and this is always clearly mentioned in the description.  

The textile has been treated with an eco-friendly stain guard, based on nano-technology, (and containing absolutely none of those hideous PFOAs that have been slowly poisoning the environment over the last 70 years) which will help to protect the surface of the cotton, but it should be noted that these antique materials need to be respected and treated with care...remove before jumping in puddles please! If they are looked after then there is no reason they won't last for another hundred years.

IMPORTANT: Please be sure to read both our shipping and refund policy pages before placing an order (links to both at foot of page). By placing an order you are indicating you have read and accepted these terms.

Love these shoes but they are sadly not your size? Whilst no two pairs are ever  identical, it is often possible to create something with a similar look in your size....please do get in touch if you would like to discuss this option...

Vegan options? Yes we can substitute the leather lining for a vegan friendly alternative, and can also ensure that vintage cotton and linen passementerie and ribbon are used rather than the antique silk fringes. Just get in touch to discuss further... 

Sustainability Every time a pair of shoes is purchased a donation is made via Ecologi to both offset the carbon involved in production and shipping and make a positive net contribution to combatting climate change....that's 25 trees planted and 0.5 tonnes carbon offset per pair.

Packaging Each pair of shoes is nestled in a high quality presentation box made from 92% recycled materials which can be wholly recycled at end of life (once ribbon and magnetic closure have been removed and recycled separately). Essential as recycling is, it is not carbon neutral, so I wanted the boxes to have as long an after-life as possible. The sturdy construction and minimal branding make them really attractive keepsake and storage boxes that hopefully will prove useful for many years to come. The lid is handstamped with our beautiful calligraphy logo, and zig-zag shred (made from non-coated recyclable bio-degradable paper) is used for the protective padding.

Putting our best foot forward For every pair of Promenaders or Loungers purchased, a donation of £10 is made to UK based charity Shoe Aid who work to provide decent footwear for children and adults in need.