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Not unlike the handbag market, designer footwear was long dominated by European luxury houses, resulting in the perception that beautifully made shoes could only be found at ultra-high prices accessible to the 1%. Sure, the rest of us could find lower-quality, mass-produced alternatives, but in the last decade or so, an in-between category has blossomed with new brands offering high-quality footwear, often made in the same Italian factories as the aforementioned luxury brands, at more attainable prices.
To be fair, leather shoe prices have risen across the board in recent years due to a variety of economic factors (and the newly instated tariffs certainly won’t be making them lower). The $485 Manolo Blahnik pumps that forced Carrie Bradshaw to defend “A Woman’s Right to Shoes” in 2003, for instance, would retail for upwards of $1,000 today. While most traditional luxury brands currently start their shoe prices around $800, a growing cohort of mid-price or contemporary brands are still offering equally stylish options of comparable quality in the $200-$600 range.
Dear Frances and Jamie Haller prioritize luxury Italian craftsmanship with their timeless, chic designs; Freda Salvador, Anonymous Copenhagen and Zou Xou take a sustainability-focused approach, working closely with artisans in El Salvador, Portugal and Argentina, respectively. Meanwhile, Marion Parke and Maile bring innovation to Italian-made shoes: The former, founded by a podiatric surgeon, incorporates discreetly orthopedic features; while the latter uses vegan leather.
Keep scrolling to see and shop these brands and a number of others making quality shoes more accessible.
Aeyde
Danielle Leather Kitten Mule Pumps, $445, available here
Luisa Dames founded Aeyde in 2015 with the goal of democratizing modern design and enduring quality. The Berlin-based footwear and accessories brand is rooted in transparent pricing, slow consumption and minimalistic design. Shop more at Aeyde, Neiman Marcus and Ssense.
Anonymous Copenhagen
Sacha 40 Mosquito, $295, available here
Founded in 2012 by Alexander Ziegler Petersen, Anonymous Copenhagen is a Danish, B-Corp certified footwear and accessories label known for styles inspired by Scandinavian minimalism. Products are made from high-quality Spanish, Italian and Portuguese leather and handcrafted by artisans in Northern Portugal. Shop more at Anonymous Copenhagen.
ATP Atelier
Miane Black Nappa Strappy Sandals, $370, available here
Founded in 2011 by Maj-La Pizzelli and Jonas Clason, this contemporary footwear and handbag brand is based on Stockholm, Sweden. While design is rooted in Scandinavian minimalism, the products are handmade in Italy. Shop more at ATP Atelier, Nordstrom, Goop and Bergdorf Goodman.
Black Suede Studio
Tash 50MM Satin Heels, $298, available here
Founded in 2018 by Kris Avakian, Canada-based Black Suede Studio offers a refined, elevated design aesthetic. Handmade in Brazil using quality, ethically sourced materials, the footwear is designed for all-day wearability. Shop more at Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop and Black Suede Studio.
Brother Vellies
Summer Huarache, $195, available here
Aurora James launched Brother Vellies in New York City in 2013, working with artisans in Africa and beyond to create handmade footwear that celebrates traditional design techniques. Shop more at Nordstrom and Brother Vellies.
Chelsea Paris
Ace Swarovski-Crystal Embellished Mettalic-Leather Mule, $395, available here
Theresa Ebagua, a Nigerian-born, Los Angeles- and London-based Black footwear designer, initially launched Chelsea Paris in 2012, and despite initial success, she “felt pressured by wholesalers, consultants and investors to stifle her identity in order to appeal to a larger customer base,” and took a hiatus before relaunching in 2020 with a primarily DTC business model, save for select retail partners. Shop more at Chelsea Paris and Olivela.
Dear Frances
Balla Mesh Flat, $445, available here
Founded in 2016 by Creative Director Jane Frances and her husband Scott O’Connor, Dear Frances combines directional design with Italian craftsmanship. Focusing on clean, timeless silhouettes, the brand is best known for its cult-favorite mesh ballet flats. Shop more at Revolve, Ssense and Dear Frances.
Emme Parsons
Espresso Nappa, $495, available here
Emme Parsons launched her namesake footwear brand in 2017, rooted in quiet, minimalist silhouettes that feel both elevated and utilitarian. All shoes are made in Italy and Spain using long-held, environmentally responsible techniques. Shop more at Emme Parsons, Net-a-Porter and Goop.
Freda Salvador
Sera Fisherman Sandal, $350, available here
Cristina Palomo Nelson, a third-generation shoemaker, and Megan Papay, a former stylist at Calvin Klein, founded Freda Salvador in California in 2012. The brand’s shoes and accessories are made in heritage luxury factories in Spain, Italy and El Salvador. Shop more at Moda Operandi, Revolve and Freda Salvador.
Hereu
Caberse Puffy Leather Fisherman Sandals, $470, available here
José Bartolomé and Albert Escribano founded Hereu in 2014, offering men’s and women’s accessories inspired by Mediterranean design and landscapes. The designers put unique and playful twists on traditional footwear styles like fisherman sandals and loafers. All products are handmade by artisans in family-owned factories across Spain. Shop more at Bergdorf Goodman, Ssense and Nordstrom.
Jamie Haller
The Camp Loafer in Ambra, $595, available here
Los Angeles-based fashion design veteran Jamie Haller launched her namesake shoe brand in 2020, later expanding into apparel. She began with the goal to perfect the understated everyday flat and quickly garnered a cult-like following. Each shoe is carefully handcrafted in Italy, using Sacchetto construction to create a soft and glove-like fit. Shop more at Jamie Haller, Mohawk General Store and Goop.
Larroudé
Milan Sandal, $350, available here
Marina Larroudé had a fruitful career spanning editorial and retail — she held fashion director titles at Teen Vogue and Barneys New York — before teaming up with her financier husband to launch an eponymous footwear brand in 2020, with the goal of bringing more newness and versatility to the space. Larroudé operates its own vertically integrated factory in Sapiranga, Brazil and uses Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. Shop more at Larroudé, Shopbop and Nordstrom.
Maguire
Prato Blush Ballerina Ballet Flat, $220, available here
Sisters Myriam and Romy Maguire launched their namesake brand in Montreal, Canada in 2016 with a mission to make quality fashion footwear fair and accessible. They hand-pick craft manufacturers around the world; shoes are produced in factories in Italy, Portugal and Spain. Shop more at Maguire and Nordstrom.
Maile
Pony in White, $430, available here
Maile was founded in 2023 by New York-based designer Maile Schmidt. A former footwear designer for Halston, Tory Burch and Revolve, she infuses her Japanese heritage and Hawaiian upbringing into her work. The young brand focuses on vegan leather wedges and kitten heels, handmade in Italy, with what she considers to be “the most wearable” heel height: 85mm. Shop more at Wolf & Badger and Maile.
Marion Parke
Sabrina Flat Sandal, $450, available here
Marion Parke, a former podiatric surgeon, launched her line in 2016, using her knowledge and experience in foot and ankle medicine to construct chic-yet-discreetly-comfortable shoes alongside master cobblers in Italy. Every style incorporates her twice-patented Triple I™ insole, providing arch support, added material to support the rearfoot and ankle, as well as medical-grade material for cushioning that molds to the foot over time. Shop more at Marion Parke, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Studio Amelia
Aviary 70 Heel, $400, available here
Emily Amelia Inglis launched Studio Amelia in 2019 in Sydney, Australia to provide quality footwear in timeless, minimalist silhouettes at an accessible price point. All shoes are made from chrome-free nappa leather by “ethically audited” manufacturers. (Most current styles were made in China, according to product listings.) Shop more at Revolve, Ssense and Moda Operandi.
Zou Xou
Eugenia Flat, $278, available here
Katherine Theobalds launched Zou Xou in 2015, focusing on classic, sensible footwear shapes designed through a modern lens and made from quality materials using a slow-fashion approach. Shoes are handmade on-demand or in small batches by artisans in the brand’s workshop in Argentina, prioritizing minimal waste and wellbeing for workers. Shop more at Zou Xou.
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