The Portuguese brand Maria Carlota, officially launched in early 2025, stands out for its focus on artisanal, fully Portuguese-made footwear. Built around a single-model concept, inspired by the calm and colours of the Alentejo and the sophistication of the city, the fisherman sandal is reimagined and adapted to contemporary life, where comfort is essential and beauty is expected.
The collection revolves around one core design, the fisherman sandal, whose origins date back to the early 20th century. Worn by fishermen in Ireland, Italy, and across Mediterranean regions, these sandals were created to protect the feet while allowing breathability and quick drying. Thick leather, a closed toe, and sturdy straps followed a purely functional logic. Today, in a context where the contemporary woman constantly shifts between roles, places, and rhythms, Maria Carlota revisits this functional heritage, respecting its original logic while refining proportions and lightening the structure.
Between rural and urban influences, the brand builds its identity within a deliberate space of contrast. Rustic yet refined. Free yet structured. It defines itself as "the meeting point between slow living and fast thinking,” a statement that reflects both its aesthetic and conceptual positioning.
Each pair is entirely made in Portugal and handcrafted in local ateliers that combine traditional know-how with creative boldness. The leather sandals are produced through intentional processes that value time and detail. More than footwear, they represent "a way of being, with intuition, colour, and presence. An invitation to move lightly, fully, and confidently through every stage of life,” grounded in the belief that "the most beautiful woman is the one who feels confident in what she wears, without relying on high heels to make an impression.”
Photographed in Alcácer do Sal, the launch campaign titled Calma e Cor reinforces the connection to Portuguese artisanal roots. The images evoke the undulating silence of the Alentejo fields in dialogue with chromatic energy and the cosmopolitan rhythm of the city. In this sense, the brand moves away from seasonal logic by proposing pieces "without season, without pressure,” designed to move seamlessly between summer and winter.
Craft with intention, made with (c) ALMA
"Maria Carlota was born between worlds,” reads the brand’s presentation. "From the whitewashed walls of the Alentejo to the restless colours of the city, from the silence of the fields to the creative chaos of the streets,” the brand exists within this in-between space. It defines itself as "a small landscape, a small city, and a great deal of dream.” Maria Carlota proposes a design language rooted in real life and reimagined for the present. From fishermen’s shores to modern cities, from necessity to intention, the fisherman sandal is given a new interpretation, designed to accompany, step by step, the complexity of the contemporary woman.
Trama, the brand’s only model, is available in three colourways. Trama Multi combines vibrant orange and soft pink in a bold chromatic interplay, evoking an Alentejo sunset with an urban spirit. Interwoven straps highlight the artisanal work, while the low wooden heel ensures lasting comfort. Trama White focuses on brightness and versatility, featuring handwoven straps and a gold buckle. Trama Yellow presents a bold, sunlit statement, where braided leather meets a wooden block heel, balancing tradition with playful modernity. Across all versions, the striped insole appears as a subtle signature of Maria Carlota.
The sandals are available through the brand’s official website, as well as at The Feeting Room concept stores in Lisbon and Porto, and at LOT – Labels Of Tomorrow, in Porto.
The collection revolves around one core design, the fisherman sandal, whose origins date back to the early 20th century. Worn by fishermen in Ireland, Italy, and across Mediterranean regions, these sandals were created to protect the feet while allowing breathability and quick drying. Thick leather, a closed toe, and sturdy straps followed a purely functional logic. Today, in a context where the contemporary woman constantly shifts between roles, places, and rhythms, Maria Carlota revisits this functional heritage, respecting its original logic while refining proportions and lightening the structure.
Between rural and urban influences, the brand builds its identity within a deliberate space of contrast. Rustic yet refined. Free yet structured. It defines itself as "the meeting point between slow living and fast thinking,” a statement that reflects both its aesthetic and conceptual positioning.
Each pair is entirely made in Portugal and handcrafted in local ateliers that combine traditional know-how with creative boldness. The leather sandals are produced through intentional processes that value time and detail. More than footwear, they represent "a way of being, with intuition, colour, and presence. An invitation to move lightly, fully, and confidently through every stage of life,” grounded in the belief that "the most beautiful woman is the one who feels confident in what she wears, without relying on high heels to make an impression.”
Photographed in Alcácer do Sal, the launch campaign titled Calma e Cor reinforces the connection to Portuguese artisanal roots. The images evoke the undulating silence of the Alentejo fields in dialogue with chromatic energy and the cosmopolitan rhythm of the city. In this sense, the brand moves away from seasonal logic by proposing pieces "without season, without pressure,” designed to move seamlessly between summer and winter.
Craft with intention, made with (c) ALMA
"Maria Carlota was born between worlds,” reads the brand’s presentation. "From the whitewashed walls of the Alentejo to the restless colours of the city, from the silence of the fields to the creative chaos of the streets,” the brand exists within this in-between space. It defines itself as "a small landscape, a small city, and a great deal of dream.” Maria Carlota proposes a design language rooted in real life and reimagined for the present. From fishermen’s shores to modern cities, from necessity to intention, the fisherman sandal is given a new interpretation, designed to accompany, step by step, the complexity of the contemporary woman.
Trama, the brand’s only model, is available in three colourways. Trama Multi combines vibrant orange and soft pink in a bold chromatic interplay, evoking an Alentejo sunset with an urban spirit. Interwoven straps highlight the artisanal work, while the low wooden heel ensures lasting comfort. Trama White focuses on brightness and versatility, featuring handwoven straps and a gold buckle. Trama Yellow presents a bold, sunlit statement, where braided leather meets a wooden block heel, balancing tradition with playful modernity. Across all versions, the striped insole appears as a subtle signature of Maria Carlota.
The sandals are available through the brand’s official website, as well as at The Feeting Room concept stores in Lisbon and Porto, and at LOT – Labels Of Tomorrow, in Porto.