Espadrilles have long been on track for a come back—comfortable, stylish and affordable, they have a universal appeal regardless of age, sex or fashion leaning. This centuries old peasant shoe from Spain has seen peaks and valleys in its popularity, but in recent years it’s seen a welcome reinvention. While many favored the functional simplicity of the plain block colored espadrille, there was also a gap in the market for a more style-led product—something a little more eye-catching. And that’s where Mymu, an independent company founded by Gabriela Lanardone, comes in.
Lanardone’s love of the shoe came from her Argentine father. “In Argentina, the shoe is worn by all generations. I grew up wearing them and bringing them back here,” she explains of its cultural presence. With a career in fashion journalism—first assisting at Vogue then as the magazine’s Latin America correspondent, followed by a move to Vanity Fair—Lanardone developed an eye for design and was ready to do something on her own. Setting out alone, she began researching back in Argentina but eventually found the perfect manufacturer in Barcelona. Quality was always foremost, but the selling point is now her unique designs. “The point is to be creative and fun while always maintaining a chic element—taking something understated and giving it an unexpected twist.”
The current collection, Calypso Deep, was inspired by her travels to the Ionian Islands and is divided into three core styles. The prints feature bold and graphic shades reminiscent of classical Greek design, while the block color selection features contrasting shades of bright colors with more muted navys and whites. The boat shoe, meanwhile, takes its cue from deck-wear with distinctive leather lace weaved through the upper part, creating a hybrid with instant aesthetic appeal.
With a whole host of design possibilities—paints, metallics, colored leathers—this humblest of footwear has become the perfect canvas. The future looks bright for Mymu, as Lanardone put it in her own words: “My dream is that people appreciate the product as enthusiastically as I do. I want people to feel good about having bought my product, like they’ve found a little treasure.”
—Lena Dystant
