Helmed by Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran, LEMAIRE is a high-end fashion brand inspired by a timeless Parisian style. Using high-quality fabrics in soft colour palettes of neutral, earthy and muted shades, LEMAIRE pieces are made to last through generations.

In 2022, I headed to Aveiro in Portugal to document the artisanal production of LEMAIRE’s new unisex sandals. The scale and skills of Portugal’s industries has made the country increasingly sought after by brands which, like LEMAIRE, focus on small collections of carefully crafted and sustainably produced pieces. In combining quality, age-old craftsmanship and the flexibility to innovate and experiment in design, Portugal’s at the forefront of a new kind of luxury.

Observing the dexterity of the craftspeople behind this elegant shoe ware was impressive. The sandals are constructed from a single piece of leather in a multi-step process which, with the exception of the laser-cutting, is entirely manual.

Commissioned by LEMAIRE. Art directed by Luce Roux.