Forum Slipper - Mallard

The Venetian slipper is known in Italy as the Friulana, originating as a humble homemade shoe in the Friuli region during the 19th century - hand-stitched from cloth remnants and fabric scraps. In the postwar years, resourceful women revived the tradition, adding outsoles cut from old bicycle tires for durability. In Venice, gondoliers soon adopted them for their grip and quiet tread, and from there they slowly radiated throughout the country, eventually becoming the elegant house-shoe that we know today. Our version is lined in cotton twill, trimmed in grosgrain, and pairs perfectly with an elegant tailored trouser as well as a favorite vintage jean. Black outsole stitching instead of the usual white ensures their quiet gravitas. Our Friulana last reflects centuries of Venetian craftsmanship with its distinctive rounded toe and gracefully low profile. Designed with a softly curved silhouette that mirrors the traditional "slim and flat-bottomed" construction favored by Venetian gondoliers, this last creates an effortlessly elegant shape that moves seamlessly from cobblestone streets to contemporary settings. Available in whole sizes only, size up if you wear a half-size.