Stepping Out in Style: Three Independent Shoemakers to Know

In an age of next-day shipping and mass-produced fast fashion, it’s rare to discover designers committed to doing things the slow way. That’s not so, however, with these three shoemakers, who are keeping the craft of handmade footwear alive in Mallorca, Paris, and London. 

Carmina Shoemaker

In sun-kissed Mallorca, Carmina Shoemaker, founded in 1866, crafts beautifully burnished Chelsea boots alongside handsome loafers. “The way a last is shaped, the lines of our patterns, the way a shoe is constructed from the inside out—that understanding doesn’t live in a manual; it lives in the hands and eyes of the people who have been doing this in Mallorca for over 150 years,” says Carmina Albaladejo Ochogavía, the company’s head of U.S. operations and the great-great-granddaughter of company founder Matías Pujadas.

Lili Curia 

A newcomer to the scene, Lili Curia was founded in 2025 by the third-generation London-based shoemaker Chili Palmer. The women’s footwear label blends modern charm and vintage silhouettes (like 1960s-inspired ankle boots), and all its classic styles are handmade in Italy in a studio just outside Florence

Casalonga Paris

Jean-Michel Casalonga honed his craft over more than two decades at Berluti, including nine years at the helm of the brand’s bespoke footwear workshop. Today, that knowledge shines through in his own bench-made approach at his eponymous brand, Casalonga Paris, where he carves his lasts by hand and marries distinctive materials with bold designs like the traditional monk strap.