Somewhere in Kaisariani, a neighbourhood rich with local lore, there is a specialist artisanal workshop that’s keeping the art of handcrafted sandals alive. Kyveli Gallia makes with her own hands every single pair that comes out of her workshop, from design to finishing.
“I was born in France and grew up in a town on the outskirts of Paris. I studied Journalism and Communication in Paris and then worked as a journalist in the cultural sector. I have also worked as an assistant to a fashion photography agent. After a burnout, I dropped everything and went to Italy to learn the language, and in 2014 I came to Greece, where I had to start from scratch. That’s how I got into shoemaking” she introduces herself. And so, the story of La Mano Shoes begins: “I was mulling over the idea of opening a sandal & shoe workshop for quite some time before I decided to actually do it. I was experimenting with different shoe styles, studying fashion trends and the market. In 2018, I got an opportunity; I bought some old shoe making machines and set up a small workshop in Kaisariani”.
“I believe in simplicity and timelessness. I always considered minimalism as the most effective point of view in fashion. Excess always destroys a look or a photograph, just as overconsumption destroys our environment. Buy less, buy better” she says, rejecting the culture of overconsumption that prevailed in the previous decade. Now things are different.
“I make sandals with simple, clean lines. They are casual and fun to walk in, they don’t tire you out, they are easy to wear, and they age beautifully over time. They are entirely handmade by me, made to order, and if necessary, I customize them to each woman’s measurements. My strong attention to detail is what makes the difference, as well as the quality of the materials used. Buying an item that was custom-made just for you is completely different”.
That’s true. It is the sense of being unique that counts, not the valuation of the brand.
“This year’s collection proposes pale and sweet summer colours, sandals with straps, always in low heel, the ones we usually wear on our summer walks. There is also a model that I particularly love this year, the “Ichi” flip-flops that were inspired by Japanese minimalism” explains Kyveli, with absolute consistency in her original design concept.
“How important is it to preserve the art of handmade footwear? It is very important to continue to offer an alternative way of consumption, directly from producers to consumers; to value the craftsmanship that handmade footwear requires. The haute couture collections of famous fashion brands are all hand-made. It’s no coincidence. They don’t look to economize on the quality of their materials. This is also how small fashion workshops work”.
An artisan like Kyveli could not but feel content with the final result, ignoring any difficulties and focusing on the essence: “I’m very proud to create a kind of fashion that has existed in Greece since ancient times. In fact, the most famous sandal of all times belongs to goddess Aphrodite and is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Greece. It is the one that the statue of Aphrodite of Delos appears to hold in her hand to ward off the lascivious god Pan.
