If your question is not answered here, write to concierge@cartecreme.com.
What is Cárte Crème?
Cárte Crème is a fashion brand founded in 2026. We produce in Portugal and sell internationally. We combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and wearing comfort, with attention to where materials come from, and to elegance.
Who founded Cárte Crème, and why?
In 2024, Ellis Regina Jansen and Adrie Mooi, both experienced designers, came together with a dream: a fashion brand making beautiful products in Europe. The most ambitious part of the idea was to design, produce and sell handcrafted shoes. That became the starting point.
After two years of developing and refining, Cárte Crème launched in 2026. The first sneaker, the Odessa, is a synthesis of design, quality and wearing comfort that is unprecedented within the established order.
Where are Cárte Crème sneakers made?
In Portugal, a country with a long tradition in shoemaking and specialised workshops that have passed their knowledge down for generations. We prefer to work with craftspeople who understand precision and handwork, and it is our way of keeping that craft alive.
Because we produce in Portugal, the distance between our design and the workshop stays small. We work closely with the makers, adjust quickly during production, and safeguard the quality you expect.
The sneakers are made in the Leiria region. The workshop has been a partner on other projects since 2004. Thirty-five people of all ages work there, supporting and teaching one another so that the craft is not lost.
Are Cárte Crème sneakers really European?
From product to packaging, everything is designed and produced within the EU. We verify this as far into the supply chain as we can.
What is the Odessa?
The Odessa is a limited edition of forty pairs per colourway, in Noir, Crème and Rose. We based the design of the exterior on the idea of a classic sneaker, with close attention to shape and line. It carries a sense of balance, movement and elegance, and combines with different lifestyles and uses.
How is the Odessa made?
Every pair is made entirely by hand in Portugal. Twelve pairs of skilful hands spend two hours on a single pair, across several stages of production.
What is a Goodyear welt?
A construction in which the sole is attached not to the upper but to a separate strip of leather running around the shoe: the welt. It is the machine-made version of a handcraft from the sixteenth century.
Why does the Odessa have one?
It lets us guarantee durable, artisanal quality. With the right specifications and combination of components we have kept the characteristics of a comfortable, flexible sneaker at the same time. The Odessa offers craftsmanship, durability and modern comfort in one shoe.
What are the benefits of a Goodyear welt?
- Repairable. The sole is attached to the welt, not to the upper. The shoe can be resoled several times without the upper suffering.
- Long life. Well maintained, it lasts for years. The upper ultimately decides how long.
- Comfort that grows. The cork gives way and moulds to the foot. After a while, the shoe feels like your shoe.
- Stable. Welt, filling and sole together form a solid base, also in daily wear.
- More resistant to moisture. Water reaches the insole less easily than in many glued constructions.
- Craftsmanship. More steps and more handling than gluing. You see and feel it in the finish.
- Less waste. Repairing instead of discarding means fewer new shoes.
Is the Odessa light and flexible, even with a Goodyear welt?
Yes. A welted shoe is normally heavy and stiff and takes a long time to break in. Ours is not, thanks to a combination of materials, components and an assembly method we developed ourselves.
It weighs 350 grams including insole and laces; an average sneaker weighs 400. There is no breaking in. The shape and suppleness make it as comfortable as a regular sneaker.
How is a Goodyear welt sneaker made?
- Insole with rib. On the underside of the insole sits a raised edge with a strong band of linen or canvas glued onto it. Everything that follows is attached to this.
- The upper over the last. The upper is pulled over the last and attached to the insole. The shoe takes its shape.
- Stitching the welt. The welt runs around the shoe, in one seam through upper, lining and rib.
- Filling the cavity. The space between insole and welt is filled with cork, giving a flat base that moulds to the foot over time.
- Attaching the outsole. The sole is stitched to the welt and glued.
- Finishing. Edges are trimmed and polished.
What materials are used?
The upper is high-quality European leather, inside and out. The outsole combines leather, rubber and Vibram. Our raw materials are, without compromise, of high quality, and sourced and produced as locally as possible within the EU.
The Odessa is made of cow leather, tanned in Alcanena, where most of Portugal's tanneries are. We have the hides dyed in small batches to prevent overproduction, and keep leftover material rather than discarding it.
How sustainable is Cárte Crème?
Sustainability is the most important of our reasons for producing in the EU. Where it genuinely helps, we buy in small batches to prevent overproduction at every stage. We keep asking ourselves whether the process can be improved further.
How long do the sneakers last?
Our products are extensively tested and refined in shape and material so that they last as long as possible. And when the sole is worn through, it can be replaced.
Can Cárte Crème sneakers be resoled or repaired?
Yes. Shoes that are due for a new sole can be sent back to us for resoling and the repair of any damage. This is possible because of the Goodyear welt: we can give your shoes a completely new sole without you having to replace them.
The work takes one month, not counting shipping. We keep you informed of the progress. Our aim is to take back worn pairs, repair them, and put them back into wear.
See care and repair.
What does the resole and condition package include, and what does it cost?
It costs €250 and includes:
- Goodyear-welt resole. The sole (leather, wax thread, cork, rubber and Vibram outsole) is taken off and completely replaced by a new, identical one.
- Reshaping and conditioning. Your sneakers go back on the last to regain their shape, and are brushed and waxed to restore and condition the leather.
- Insole replacement. The natural cow leather footbed with rubber foam cushioning is replaced.
- Lace change. The cotton laces are replaced by an identical pair.
- Packaging. The restored pair returns in new original Cárte Crème packaging.
How do I request a resole and send in my sneakers?
Write to concierge@cartecreme.com and include the unique code of your pair, written inside the tongue, a short description of the condition of the shoes, and four to six photographs: front, back, inner side, outer side, and any details worth showing. Photograph them in bright light, and keep each photograph under 9 MB.
We look at the pair, confirm what is needed, and send you a prepaid shipping label. Pack the shoes well to avoid damage in transit.
See care and repair.
How do I care for my Odessa?
Your pair has already been treated with the natural wax that leather needs in daily wear. Wipe the shoes now and then with a slightly damp flannel cloth, without soap, to take off dust and dirt. For the most part that is all the care they need.
Do not treat the suede parts with any product at all; they are irreparably damaged by them. To keep the smooth leather supple, apply a thin layer of colourless shoe cream now and then, only on the smooth leather, let it dry well, and buff with a flannel cloth to bring back the shine.
Full instructions are on our care page. Cárte Crème is not responsible for damage to its products caused by incorrect application or interpretation of the care instructions we recommend.
How comfortable are they? What is the last based on?
The last (the shape of the shoe) is based on that of a classic football boot, and has been tested extensively. It has an ergonomic shape that respects the lines of the foot. The last gives the shoe its identity and its comfort from within, and it is the base last of Cárte Crème on which every future model will be built.
A football boot last is meant to stay comfortable during intensive use without causing friction. Ours has a wider forefoot which, through the design of the Odessa, lets the shoe shape itself to the foot instead of the other way around. It comes from a last used thousands of times for a popular series of football boots from the 1980s.
How do they fit? Which size should I choose?
Cárte Crème shoes are made to EU sizes and are true to size. We produce EU 37 to 46.
To be sure of your size, see our size and fit guide. If you are unsure or have unusual measurements, write to concierge@cartecreme.com.
What makes the Odessa unique?
The limited editions, the hand-written numbering, the certificate of authenticity with every pair, and the use of artisanal techniques and high-quality natural materials. Collected, not sold.
How much do Cárte Crème sneakers cost?
Prices are set per model and can vary by version. The Odessa costs €550 in the EU.
Where can I buy Cárte Crème? Do you ship internationally?
We sell only through this website. We ship to all 27 member states of the European Union, and to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.
What does shipping cost, and how long does it take?
Within the European Union, shipping is included for orders of €550 or more, which covers every pair of the Odessa. Below that amount, a fee of €12.95 applies. Outside the EU, a flat fee of €19.95 applies. Shipping costs are shown at checkout before payment.
Every pair is numbered and packed by hand before it leaves us. Once your order has shipped you will receive an email with tracking. Delivery times depend on your location; see our shipping policy.
What is the return policy?
If you are a consumer resident in the European Union, you have the right to withdraw from your purchase within 14 days, without giving a reason. The period begins on the day you receive the last item of your order. Request a return via "Request a return" in the footer, or write to concierge@cartecreme.com. Products must be returned within 14 days of notification.
We provide a prepaid return label and deduct a flat €25 return shipping fee from your refund. We refund the standard outbound shipping cost together with the purchase price. Returned items must be unused, unworn and in their original condition and packaging. Limited or numbered editions are not, in themselves, excluded from the right of withdrawal.
Once we have received and inspected a return, approved refunds are processed within 14 days, to the original payment method. See our return and refund policy.