A self-made businesswoman, Lucia has been working in the industry since she was 14 years old and loves her job. She met her future husband while they were working in a shoe factory, and a business idea was spawned. Together, they opened the workshop over 30 years ago and their sons now work with them too.
Lucia is no typical factory owner. She works in every department and checks on production, supplies, and even sample development. She’s hardly ever in her office! So you’re more likely to find her on the production line, watching the designs take shape and helping to achieve the perfect finishing touches on each carefully crafted shoe.
1.
OUR WORKSHOP
The artisans in this family-run workshop have been honing their craft for generations and bring heart and expertise to every pair they make.
We believe that luxury shoes should create value for everyone who’s involved in the process.
Lucia and her husband are focused on providing an exceptional working experience for everyone in the business. Social justice is very important to us at ESSEN and we're invested in making sure the artisans' craft is compensated accordingly. We are committed to giving continuous, well-paid work and will never switch to cheaper alternatives.
2.
MATERIAL & QUALITY
We take 'Made In Italy' one step further. The leather, the components, and even our shoe boxes are sourced locally from the area surrounding our workshop.
It is important to us that this style is extra comfortable and easy to wear, so your shoes have been crafted from the highest grade and buttery soft LWG-certified leathers we could find.
The Leather Working Group (LWG) audits the environmental impact of tanneries throughout the supply chain and certifies those that comply with their protocols.
We only ever use leather that is a by-product of the meat industry, which would otherwise go to waste. We will never use exotic skins. Learn more about the important sustainable initiatives our tanneries are taking here.
3.
PACKAGING
We do everything we can to reduce waste at each point in the process – using eco-friendly shoe materials and sending orders in only one box, whenever possible.
We’ve decided to minimise packaging waste that ends up in oceans and landfills and forego fancy packaging. Our boxes are made from recycled cardboard and soy-based inks.
4.
LOGISTICS
We're an Australian brand but your shoes were shipped from The Netherlands.
Our warehousing and distribution were very deliberately chosen to be near our factories so we can be responsive and minimise the total distance your shoes have to travel before arriving on your doorstep.
We also protect 25 endangered rainforest trees with every purchase, to carbon compensate for the making and shipping of our shoes and protect our planet against further climate change.
5.
CARE & REPAIR
TREAT YOUR SHOES WITH LOVE, IT WILL MAKE THEM LAST EVEN LONGER.
Enjoy the pleasure of well-made shoes with a timeless design and being able repair, and properly care for your wardrobe.
Please visit our website for detailed care instructions.
6.
OUR STORY
I founded ESSEN as a response to a fashion cycle that overproduces more than it carefully crafts, chases trends more than it determines classics, and wastes more than it sustains.
So I created a permanent collection of no-compromise staples - timeless classics that are reimagined in new ways and made to last.
Moving away from traditional seasons and not being focused on the fashion calendar allows me to take all the time I need and there is no limit to the resources I can invest in my designs. So I take it slow, develop, test, and then release one key piece at a time.
My ambition is to create a footwear brand that upholds a more conscious pace and process and does no harm when it's produced or when it's consumed.
I hope you’ll love your new shoes as much as I enjoyed making them.
