• Riudavets
    The Original Sandal
    from Menorca, Spain

History

The first Avarca has its origins in the Menorcan countryside. Menorca is a small island in the Spanish Mediterranean, where the land is dry and hard. Given these conditions, the Menorcan villagers needed shoes that were strong and flexible, yet simple in design. They soon found that Avarcas were the ideal shoes for this purpose, as Avarcas kept the villagers’ feet cool and comfortable.

 

Over time, Menorca’s economy changed. As farm tasks were mechanized, many laborers moved to the island’s towns in search of new trades.

Bep de Binixems was one of these laborers. He is the grandfather of the third generation of José Riudavets SL, a family business and one of the key names in the history of Menorcan Avarcas. Binixems worked for many years on the farm before leaving the countryside to learn the trade of shoemaking.

 

Established in the late 1920s, and currently run by the third generation, this family business has always guaranteed authenticity, durability and a proper fit. The authentic Avarcas Riudavets of today still carry many characteristics of those worn yesterday: a classic tire sole, a fine suede inner lining, greased leather and a hidden border stitch.

  • Antonio Riudavets, the founder's son set up his first large-scale workshop to produce Avarcas for the island.

  • He introduced various technical alterations to improve comfort, such as inserting a thin strip of rubber in the heel strap to ensure elasticity. The absorbent insole to prevent the foot slipping inside the sandal and the provision of a moulder rubber sole to provide more flexibility whilst still retaining its water-resistant qualities.

Sandal

You will struggle to find someone who has visited the island of Menorca and hasn’t taken a pair of Traditional Avarcas home with them. In many ways, these typical sandals mirror what Menorca is all about: simplicity, comfort and respect for the environment. Riudavets USA is now providing these sought-after authentic and original sandals to the United States, which will quickly become the latest, must-have fashion trend. Comfortable, durable and handmade from premium Spanish leather and 100% recycled rubber (made from car tires), it’s no wonder they have been around for hundreds of years.

Avarcas come in variety of fashionable colors and prints (for men, women and kids), making it hard to go home with just one pair . They are the ideal footwear, complementing every outfit, from casual jeans to a smart dress. This sandal can easily take you from the beach to the city – making it the ultimate wardrobe staple.

  • Step 1 of 12 — Workman stitching lateral side of the Avarca

  • Step 2 of 12 — Workman cutting the thread

  • Step 3 of 12 — Covering the stiching

  • Step 4 of 12 — Glue the covering piece

  • Step 5 of 12 — Cutting the left over

  • Step 6 of 12 — Removing little stones

  • Step 7 of 12 — Sandpaper to finish the ends

  • Step 8 of 12 — Piece of oiled leather

  • Step 8 of 12 — Piece of oiled leather

  • Step 10 of 12 — Cleaning the strap cover

  • Step 11 of 12 — Cutting the upper edges

  • Step 12 of 12 — Cutting the imperfections

Shop

Premium

  • Green Nubuck

  • Light Blue

  • Orange

  • Yellow Nubuck

Metallics

  • Bronze

  • Copper

  • Gold

  • Silver

Basics

  • Black

  • Brown

  • Green

  • Light Brown

  • Natural

  • Navy Blue

  • Red

  • White

Women's – $120

Select Size

Select Color

Description

Riudavets rustic sandals are the result of three generations of experience in shoe making. Known for its exceptional quality and comfort, Riudavets’ Avarcas have several unique features: — Hidden side stitch — High quality leathers — Recycled car tire sole


Please select size and color

Basics

  • Black

  • Brown

  • Green

  • Light Brown

  • Natural

  • Navy Blue

  • Red

  • White

Metallics

  • Bronze

  • Copper

  • Gold

  • Silver

Premium

  • Green Nubuck

  • Light Blue

  • Orange

  • Yellow Nubuck

Men's – $120

Select Size

Select Color

Description

Riudavets rustic sandals are the result of three generations of experience in shoe making. Known for its exceptional quality and comfort, Riudavets’ Avarcas have several unique features: — Hidden side stitch — High quality leathers — Recycled car tire sole


Please select size and color

Premium

  • Green Nubuck

  • Light Blue

  • Orange

  • Yellow Nubuck

Metallics

  • Bronze

  • Copper

  • Gold

  • Silver

Basics

  • Black

  • Brown

  • Green

  • Light Brown

  • Natural

  • Navy Blue

  • Red

  • White

Kids – $88

Select Size

Select Color

Description

Riudavets rustic sandals are the result of three generations of experience in shoe making. Known for its exceptional quality and comfort, Riudavets’ Avarcas have several unique features: — Hidden side stitch — High quality leathers — Recycled car tire sole


Please select size and color

Press

“When it comes to footwear for the city's preferred coastal getaway... Maryam Nassir Zadeh has laid in a supply of Riudavets avarcas, the nubock sandals from Minorca ($120). Maryam Nassir Zadeh is at 123 Norfolk Street.”

 

“AVARCA sandals, traditionally worn in the countryside on Minorca, have made their way stateside. These, from Riudavets,are handmade much the way they were in the 1920s, when the family business was established, with Spanish leather uppers, a suede lining and soles of recycled rubber. They come in an array of colors to suit your laid-back weekend wear.”

 

“The brainchild of the fashion designer Lucy Barnes, the television producer Heidi Kelso and the antiques dealer Fran Lombardi-Reilly, the shop reflects the trio’s personalities and specialties, with offerings ranging from new and vintage women’s clothing and accessories to children’s items and decorative accessories for the home. The opening also marks the debut of the Eureka Beach collection of caftans, tunics and dresses…The line, which ranges from $100 to $350, hangs alongside pieces by Barnes (look for the stretch denim “Miracle skirt”), jewelry by the North Fork weekender Paige Novick, Chascona bags by the stylist Karan Schijman, Riudavets summery leather slip-ons, children’s clothing by Wovenplay and textiles from Bali, Turkey and Morocco.”

 

“I simply cannot live without a pair of Avarcas for the spring/summer season. Hailing from the island of Menorca, these Spanish sandals traditionally come in muted colors of beige, green, tan and navy. For Spring 2013, Riudavets will produce a range of the shoe in neutral metallics.”

MYHABIT Buyer Diary: Eight Things I Love For Spring 2013 (So Far) – 25 September 2012

 

“BEVERLY GROVE—Creatures of Comfort on Melrose is now carrying Riudavets sandals. The leather footwear, made on Menorca (an island off the coast of Spain), retails at $112 for adults and $89 for kids. Creatures claims to be the only boutique in the entirety of LA to stock the label.”

Riudavets Arrive at Creatures of Comfort; Terrarium Classes – 22 August 2012

 

“If you’re forgoing a trip to the Mediterranean in favor of a summer staycation, you don’t have to travel far to score the popular sustainable sandals worn by theSpanish royal family to local farmers and island vacationers in Menorca, Spain. Now conveniently available stateside–online and in New York, at Maryam Nassir Zadeh–these authentic summer kicks (I tried out a complimentary pair) are handmade by the third generation family-run Avarcas Riudavets with Spanish leather and100% recycled rubber tire sole.”

Straight from Spain, Summer’s Coolest New Sustainable Sandals – 7 July 2012

 

“At one of the ubiquitous sandal shops, with stacks of shoes piled to the ceiling, she tried on a pair of abarcas, the simple leather shoes Minorca is known for and which are sold in a rainbow of colors.”

Minorca, Off the Coast of Spain, a Tranquil Biosphere Reserve – 13 April 2012

 

Stockists

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Exclusive Importer and Distributor for the USA and the Caribbean:
Med Insula Minor Inc. 201 East 21st St. #2K New York, NY 10010

Notice: All shoe-size conversions are approximate. Fits may vary by shoe style or personal preference; foreign sizes may vary by manufacturer. This kind of leather takes a few days to stretch.

Women
35 / 4'5   36 / 5'5   37 / 6'5   38 / 7   39 / 8   40 / 8'5   41 / 9'5   42 / 10   

Men
41 / 8   42 / 8'5   43 / 9'5   44 / 10   45 / 11   46 / 12   47 / 12'5   48 / 13'5   

Kids
23 / 7   24 / 7'5   25 / 8   26 / 9   27 / 10   28 / 11   29 / 12   30 / 12'5   31 / 13   32 / 1   33 / 1'5   34 / 2'5