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Courtesy of Fernando Hualde.

Let us journey to Zuberoa, to Maule (Mauléon-Licharre) and its surroundings. Back in the years, 18th-century flax and hemp workers specialized in the manufacture of a very particular kind of footwear: espadrilles. And it would henceforth be espadrilles which put Maule on the map.

Due to a strong increase in demand by Basque migrants and northern French miners of once handcrafted espadrilles, the industry underwent a process of industrialization in the mid-19th century, recruitment of cross-border labour being necessary. (more…)