In 2009 we founded ZESPÀ.
Times move, Zespa moves, and reaffirms itself as an open concept driven by durability and product quality.
During the last decades we tried to develop and improve our project from the Made in France to Made in Portugal always keeping in mind local production, luxury artisanat and high end products quality.
This experience we have as shoemakers is not enough. We are committed to always do better and satisfy our customers with desirable products.
It is essential for us to pursue these goals while respecting the environment and taking care of those who work with us.
We are driven by constant improvement.
MANUFACTURING
Today, all of our products are made in Portugal. Our workshops respect REACH European safety and environmental standards, and we make sure they provide good working conditions for their employees. Most are family businesses which have perpetuated expertise for generations. We spend many weeks on site working with these workshops and building a relationship of trust.
The Porto area has developed an exceptional savoir-faire. Our vision of luxury craftsmanship combines with technical control, tradition, passion, and the use of materials that are both noble and durable. Of the hundred operations required to manufacture a shoe, most are carried out by hand and we want the daily production rate to meet our high quality requirements, which means a slow process. Our ambition is to democratize this luxury craft with an accessible high-end sneaker.
MADE IN PORTUGAL
Today, all of our products are made in Portugal. Our workshops respect REACH European safety and environmental standards, and we make sure they provide good working conditions for their employees.
FAMILY HISTORY
Most are family businesses which have perpetuated expertise for generations. We spend many weeks on site working with these workshops and building a relationship of trust.
HIGH-END CRAFTSMANSHIP
The Porto area has developed an exceptional savoir-faire. Our vision of luxury craftsmanship combines with technical control, tradition, passion, and the use of materials that are both noble and durable. Of the hundred operations required to manufacture a shoe, most are carried out by hand and we want the daily production rate to meet our high quality requirements, which means a slow process. Our ambition is to democratize this luxury craft with an accessible high-end sneaker.
MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS
The quality of a product starts from its components. Our leathers are of high quality and have a reduced carbon footprint, they are from European tanneries (Italy, Portugal, France). They meet quality criteria but also environmental. We select noble skin types, called full-grain, the most beautiful, the most flexible but also the most durable. Our researches for improvements are constant with regard to the environmental impact of the manufacturing and packaging of our products. From the first mood board assembly to the reinforcements of the upper, via the rubber sole, many components are made from recycled materials. We are minimizing the use of chemicals and plastic to eliminate these elements from our packaging, favoring recycled and recyclable materials.
We have built a network of some of the most respected suppliers on the continent. Our desire is to build a shoe that becomes more comfortable, more patina-free, and get better over time.
(It’s because we see our products in the long run each pair is sold with a second pair of laces.)
LOCALLY SOURCED
The quality of a product starts from its components. Our leathers are of high quality and have a reduced carbon footprint, they are from European tanneries (Italy, Portugal, France). They meet quality criteria but also environmental.
QUALITY EXCELLENCE
We have built a network of some of the most respected suppliers on the continent. Our desire is to build a shoe that becomes more comfortable, more patina-free, and get better over time.
(It’s because we see our products in the long run each pair is sold with a second pair of laces.)
ECOLOGY & RECYCLING
We select noble skin types, called full-grain, the most beautiful, the most flexible but also the most durable. Our researches for improvements are constant with regard to the environmental impact of the manufacturing and packaging of our products. From the first mood board assembly to the reinforcements of the upper, via the rubber sole, many components are made from recycled materials. We are minimizing the use of chemicals and plastic to eliminate these elements from our packaging, favoring recycled and recyclable materials.
PRODUCT
We spend our days walking with our products. Comfort is therefore naturally at the heart of our approach.
Our anatomical insole provides support and stability to the foot. Our linings are in soft breathable calfskin. Imagined by a formal expert, our shapes tend towards a perfect fit. These shapes are unique to us and that’s why we only release one or two new models per season. We want our products to last and live long, because it makes them even more beautiful. With this choice, we are registering the reverse of hyper consumerism. We opt for manual, traditional savoir-faire and finishing to increase durability. Designing a durable and comfortable shoe is useless if no one wants to wear it. Design is therefore also important. Our collections are made with the desire of an elegant and timeless design, like all the great classics.
COMFORT
We spend our days walking with our products. Comfort is therefore naturally at the heart of our approach.
Our anatomical insole provides support and stability to the foot. Our linings are in soft breathable calfskin. Imagined by a formal expert, our shapes tend towards a perfect fit. These shapes are unique to us and that’s why we only release one or two new models per season.
LIFECYCLE
We want our products to last and live long, because it makes them even more beautiful. With this choice, we are registering the reverse of hyper consumerism. We opt for manual, traditional savoir-faire and finishing to increase durability.
TIMELESS
Designing a durable and comfortable shoe is useless if no one wants to wear it. Design is therefore also important. Our collections are made with the desire of an elegant and timeless design, like all the great classics.
LOGISTICS
We aim for a short circuit process: everything is done in Europe, between Portugal, France and Italy. Only 1,200 kilometers separate our offices from our workshops. This proximity allows us to offer products with a reduced carbon footprint, rather than the boat or the plane, our goods are traveling by truck. Our logistics platform uses electric vehicles to dispatch packages.
From cardboard to tape, tissue paper, all the elements used for our transport-related packaging are recyclable.
From the beginning to the end of the chain, our logistics journey is local and eco-friendly.
SHORT CIRCUIT
We aim for a short circuit process: everything is done in Europe, between Portugal, France and Italy. Only 1,200 kilometers separate our offices from our workshops.
SLOW TRANSPORT
This proximity allows us to offer products with a reduced carbon footprint, rather than the boat or the plane, our goods are traveling by truck. Our logistics platform uses electric vehicles to dispatch packages.
ECOLOGY
From cardboard to tape, tissue paper, all the elements used for our transport-related packaging are recyclable.
From the beginning to the end of the chain, our logistics journey is local and eco-friendly.
WORK IN PROGRESS
We always try to do better, to look for the smallest detail to improve what can be improved. Of course, we still have a lot of progress to make. In the interests of transparency, we will share each month. The objectives we are working on, so that you can follow our progress.
“PURE OCEAN”
We are in discussion with the Pure Ocean association, which works for the protection of the underwater world.
We would like to be able to establish a partnership and support them as much as we can especially concerning our beloved Mediterranean.
MAINTENANCE
We are working on a shoe cleaning service in store, as well as a kit of maintenance products, to improve the life duration of our products.
SOLVENT-FREE GLUE & VEGETABLE LEATHER
We would like to use a solvent-free glue to assemble our soles, as it is already for all other assembly operations in our shoe.
Objective: 100% solvent-free for SS21 production.
We will be able to use a vegetable tanned calf leather for the linings of our shoes. This will be the case from the SS21 production too.
