Fashion, Clothing

THE ICONIC FLIP-FLOP SANDALS OF THE ISLAND OF CAPRI

16/07/2022

Capri, a this corner of Paradise in Italy, is a crowded island characterized by narrow streets running along the coast. A place where the feeling of being in an oasis of uncompromising luxury is a certainty. International stars arrive here in the summer aboard gorgeous jachts from which they disembark to stroll around in short shorts, very light dresses and ... the ever-present sandals

The island of Capri has always been considered one of the most sought-after beach destinations, exclusive and frequented by VIPs who launch fashions, and all this »fits» perfectly with what happened on the Neapolitan island with the «Capri sandals», a comfortable and elegant summer footwear born from the hands of skilled artisans who put into practice the techniques of leather working jealously handed down from generation to generation, with a touch of creativity and good taste that has made these shoes a coveted fashion accessory appreciated, for decades, by illustrious personalities from every corner of the globe.

Pompeii 1935: in the city made immortal by the eruption of Vesuvius, Diana Vreeland (director of Vogue America) sees these comfortable footwear on some mosaics in which, a couple in the act of love, the man wears a pair of flat thong sandals, characterized by a strip of leather between the big toe and the illice, while the strap around the ankle is fixed behind the heel. Impressed by this accessory, she made a sketch and, upon arriving in Capri, immediately had them made by a local artisan, realizing their potential in fashion and style. Thus were born the perfect summer sandals, which later became the symbol of the island and of the Italian summer. 

If the origins of Capri sandals are, therefore, very ancient, their worldwide fame and diffusion among the jet set dates back to more recent times and in particular to the post World War II period, when the Island and the resorts overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento conquered VIPs and public figures from all over the planet. It was precisely the VIPs who frequented Capri and Positano who revived the fashion for these traditional sandals that local artisans had never stopped producing.

The best way to discover these shoes that are as traditional as they are fashionable is to explore the island on a magnificent sunny day. Capri, in fact, is one of those destinations always destined to leave its mark. From the moment one lands on the island, one is literally enchanted by its scenery made all the more fascinating by the exclusive but at the same time intimate and evocative atmospheres one breathes while walking through the streets. It is an island of karst origin that sports a scenic jagged coastline in which magnificent caves are set, among which it is impossible not to mention the Blue Grotto, with its play of light that colors the waters a surprisingly intense and lively blue. The rocks here have been sculpted by nature to create true works of art. Just think also of the famous Faraglioni, the three peaks that emerge majestically from the waters, creating one of Capri‘s most emblematic landscapes.

The tourist attractions, scenic beauty and excellent local cuisine combine not only with beautiful sandals but also with lace and lace whose female entrepreneurial excellence finds its highest expression in Titina‘s name. Battistina Mariniello (in art "Tittina"), is the owner of «Pizzi e Merletti», a small fashion store for young and old in the center of Anacapri. Known to everyone on the island, she is an example of female entrepreneurship and at, the same time, a manifestation of how «want is power», even when one is no longer very young.

In fact, in 1998, at the age of 61, she opened her boutique: knitting and tailoring, a pastime dedicated until then to local children, then became a full-time occupation, thanks in part to the kind offer Giannantonio De Tommaso, a well-known professional from Capri, who offered her his premises as a workshop. Even today, more than 20 years after her beginnings, Tittina still works on her creations, continuing to update and plan for the future.