Spanish footwear brand Flabelus introduces its colorful gondolier- and espadrille-inspired flats to the Philippines.

On the third floor of Power Plant Mall, the rows of velvet slippers in saturated shades are hard to miss. Some have ruched straps. Others are trimmed in contrast piping. All of them are soft, slightly theatrical, and unmistakably European. These gems belong to Flabelus, the Spanish label that’s building a steady following for its literary-themed footwear. For the entire March, the brand is staging its first standalone retail appearance in the Philippines with a mall pop-up.

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Flabelus’ shoes sit in a category that’s difficult to neatly define. They look like ballet flats, but they’re built more like espadrilles. The silhouette traces back to friulanes, the velvet house slippers worn by Venetian gondoliers, something founder and CEO Beatriz de los Mozos first encountered while traveling. She adapted the shape into a sturdier everyday shoe, keeping the softness but refining the proportions. The result is designed to be simple: a low slipper with a slightly structured upper, usually made in velvet or patterned fabric, and a flexible sole. The brand name “Flabelus” is itself a mash-up of its three founders’ names: Flaminia, Beatriz, and Lucrecia.

Traditional With A Twist

Despite its polished presentation, the shoes are still produced using traditional espadrille techniques. According to Pilar Oraa, the brand’s international communications director, everything is made in Spain, in a factory the company opened last year.

“Flabelus is a Spanish brand, and that’s really important for us,” she says. “We produce everything in Spain, working with Spanish espadrille shoemakers.”

Even the soles have a particular backstory. They incorporate recycled bicycle tires, which make them more durable than the average slipper-like flat, and inject an element of sustainability into the brand. The uppers, often organic cotton velvet, usually come in bright colors; one shelf might run from oxblood to saffron to cobalt. The brand also leans heavily on storytelling, each pair named after a literary or fictional character, turning the collection into a small cast of personalities.

A Growing Following

Manila-based style regular Rocio Zobel discovered the brand a few years ago and has been wearing it ever since. Her favorite pair is the Mafalda Georgina. Mafalda stands as one of Flabelus’ most recognizable styles with its gathered strap across the foot that’s slightly scrunched.

“I’ve been a fan for about two or three years already,” Rocio says. “So many people have asked me about them—where they’re from, where to buy them. I think there’s a big market here for the shoe, especially with the kind of weather we have.”

The brand already operates more than 40 stores worldwide, including locations in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, London, and Milan, while its wholesale network reaches more than 45 countries. Asia is its newest focus. The company began testing the region in Singapore and Bangkok before arriving in Manila.

For now, the Manila presence is temporary. But judging by the number of people who already recognize the shoes—often by color before anything else—it’s unlikely to be the last time the brand appears in the city.

Photos courtesy of Philia Azul