BEHIND THE BRAND: ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS

Warmer days are coming, of that we are sure!  Whether you are staying at home or venturing abroad this summer, we urge you to take a closer look at iconic footwear brand, Ancient Greek Sandals.

New to Bod&Ted this season, Ancient Greek Sandals are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.  Co-founder, Christina Martini, sketches their beautiful designs at the company’s base on the wonderful island of Corfu.  From this location, probably one of the most enviable office spaces in the industry (her desk faces the Ionian Sea!), she is constantly inspired by her collection of curiosities, books on ancient mythology and the stunning scenery around her.

Laconia Sandal in Black

Before she met her business partner, Nikolas Minoglou over a decade ago through a mutual friend, Christina was living in Paris working as a shoe designer for Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton. The pair could see a gap in the market and had a vision to create sandals using classic Mediterranean craftsmanship techniques, the likes of which they had not seen in the fashion capitals of the World.

Desmos Sandal in Natural

They started with one small shop in Greece where Christina’s designs were handmade nearby using leather sourced locally.  A perfectionist at heart, her expertise in quality leather finishing and commercial product development undoubtedly helped them build the brand from the ground up at quite a pace.  Universal popularity has lead to the company’s expansion into accessories and homeware.

Eleftheria Sandal in Black

Inspired by ancient Greek myths about the gods and goddesses, the brand is equal parts romantic and practical.  All the footwear designs feature golden wings in honour of Greek god, Hermes who famously wore a flying pair of gladiators.

Estia Leather Sandal in Natural

The traditional construction of Ancient Greek Sandals  uses a unique and special technique where the upper folds into the insole.  This is a raw process that requires minimal stitching and no lining.  These supple leather flats are the ultimate in ‘barely there’ sandals, thus they have to be as perfect as humanly possible as the quality is on show for all to see.

As an archaeology obsessive who originally wanted to unearth Greek secrets for a living, Christina’s passion for her beloved subject shows through in her creativity for the collection and a brand authenticity which we very much admire.

Shop the Ancient Greek Sandals collection here or come and visit us in store.  We’d love to see you!

Love,

Bod&Ted x