Odessa.

The Odessa is made in a workshop in the Leiria region, where thirty-five people of all ages work side by side and teach one another, so that the craft is not lost. Twelve pairs of hands spend two hours on a single pair.

The leather comes from Alcanena, where most of Portugal’s tanneries are. We have it dyed in small batches rather than in bulk, and keep what is left over instead of discarding it. From the shoe to the box it arrives in, everything is made within the EU.

The sole is not glued to the upper. It is stitched to a strip of leather running around the shoe: the welt, the machine-made version of a sixteenth-century handcraft.

It means the sole can come off and a new one go on, several times, without the upper suffering. Between the insole and the welt sits a layer of cork that gives way as you wear the shoe and takes the shape of your foot.

A welted shoe is normally heavy and stiff. This one weighs 350 grams including insole and laces, against 400 for an average sneaker, and needs no breaking in.

The shape of the shoe is based on the last of a classic football boot: an ergonomic form that respects the lines of the foot. A wide footbed for healthier feet, with support in the heel and throughout the shoe, and a flat sole for natural foot use.

This is the base last of Cárte Crème, on which every future model will be built, so the comfort you know from us stays the same.

The exterior is based on the classic sneaker, with close attention to shape and line. It represents balance, movement and elegance: a design that sits easily alongside different lifestyles and occasions.

The upper is high quality European cow leather, inside and out, tanned in Alcanena and dyed in small batches. The toe and side panels are suede; the rest is smooth leather. Both develop character with wear: expect the leather to darken and soften over time, a record of where you've worn it.

The suede must not be treated with any product. Shoe cream, polish and waterproofing sprays will damage it irreparably. See Care below.

The outsole combines leather, rubber and Vibram, a proven choice for grip and durability.