K. JACQUES

In 1933, the fishing port of Saint-Tropez welcomed a new resident: Jacques Keklikian. After falling in love with the city, he decided to move there with his wife, Elise. Wishing to help locals discover his invention - comfortable, durable leather sandals - he paid homage to this haven of peace with his tropézienne models. Just a few steps from the port, the Armenian couple inaugurated their very first K. Jacques boutique-workshop. While Jacques made the sandals, Elise handled sales. From the very start, the Keklikians designed custom sandals for their clients and close friends, and then celebrities and emerging movie stars. Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider all fell for K. Jacques creations. The brand took off. Eventually, the couple's three children, Liliane, Georges and Bernard, joined in on the adventure, perpetuating their parents' savoir-faire over 90 years. The brand's tropéziennes are for the whole family, and today, they're an institution in the world of footwear, mixing minimalism, timelessness and a sunny aesthetic. Inspired by the gentle pace of life in the south of France, K. Jacques uses sparkling colours with a hint of simplicity and elegance. Committed to sustainable and responsible practices, the brand K. Jacques is 100% Made in France with high-quality production for its entire collection. The leather sole is doubled and then sewn with linen thread imported from Ireland, for flawless resistance upon contact with the foot. With high-quality design and noble raw materials like leathers selected from the best tanneries in France, Italy and Spain, natural rubber or durable cotton thread, K. Jacques sandals are fastidiously handmade my artisans. In total, there are 46 steps necessary to produce a pair: from preparing the materials, cutting the strips, assembling, gluing and stitching. The French brand proudly reveals its heritage with each collection. The sandals are produced upon demand, in respect to the concept of Slow Fashion. In 2010, K. Jacques was recognized by the French government as an "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivante", a label of excellence for French savoir-faire. In the 90s and 2000s, the brand stood out for its numerous collaborations with couturiers and designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo, Courrèges, Balenciaga, Helmut Lang, Givenchy, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Paco Rabanne, Isabelle Marant and many others. Celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Michelle Obama, Kendall Jenner and Gisele Bündchen wear these famous sandals. Among the K. Jacques bestsellers are the iconic flat-soled leather Epicure, Zenobie and Artimon.