JULIEN MARTINEZ-CALMETTES

Born in Versailles in 1980, Julien is a French shoe designer based in Paris. He has a background in industrial design, having studied in France and Spain. Before transitioning to shoe design in 2011, he worked as a product designer In Barcelona.

Since 2011, he has built his career through collaborations with several renowned French and Italian shoe brands. These collaborations have shaped his professional journey, enriching his craftsmanship. He had the privilege of honing his skills in the workshops of Tuscany, a renowned center for shoemaking excellence. Each house he has worked with has contributed to his artistic approach. With a remarkable adaptability, he draws inspiration from the history and DNA of each brand, creating shoes that reinterpret their codes while embracing modernity. In 2017, Julien launched his own brand to fully express his personal vision. Through his creations, he aims to merge craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics in a unique way. Today, he seeks to resume collaborations with brands, leveraging his expertise to explore new creative horizons.
His experience has allowed him to blend a commitment to quality with creativity, resulting in pieces that embody both elegance and savoir-faire.

KNOW-HOW, CRAFTSMANSHIP & TIMELESS PIECES

Fusion of tradition and handcrafted modernity

Handcrafter Technicity

At the same time, we are also integrating modern leather weaving techniques using looms. These machines produce regular patterns, adding an extra dimension to our product range. The result of this exceptional know-how combines aesthetic beauty with robust functionality. Not only are our woven leather creations visually striking, they also offer unrivalled durability and comfort. Thanks to the natural suppleness of leather and the strength of braiding, our shoes fit the contours of the foot perfectly.

SOURCING

Leather
We source 100% of our leather from LWG Silver and Gold certified tanneries in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Stock
Whenever possible, we source leathers from dead inventory to reuse existing resources. All our wholesale production is made to order, and we adapt our eshop offer to rationalize our production. We limit initial production quantities for our online boutique, and prefer to reassort during the season to limit unsold stock.
Plastic Materials
We have completely eliminated all plastic materials from our packaging process and adapted our box formats to reduce volume as much as possible.
Durability
We develop our products with quality, timelessness and versatility in mind, making them long-lasting and desirable season after season

PRODUCTION

Since its creation, Souliers Martinez has chosen to produce locally within nearby regions—Spain, Italy, and Portugal. All our shoes are made in Europe across five workshops, each selected for its specific expertise: 3 Portuguese workshops (leather boots, ankle boots, and sandals) 1 Italian workshop (woven leather boots and ankle boots, and leather sandals) 1 Spanish workshop (fully hand-woven leather sandals and pumps).

We also collaborate with a braiding workshop in the Alicante region of Spain, where all our uppers are handcrafted by skilled female artisans. These women work from home, continuing a tradition that has been passed down through generations.

COMMUNITY

The Souliers Martinez customer is a woman aged between 30 and 50, living mainly in an urban environment (mainly in France, the United States and Japan). Active and connected, she closely follows trends on social networks, influenced by iconic fashion figures who wear our shoes (via our gifting program). These influencers, known for their taste and sense of style, play a key role in the adoption of our creations. Our customer prefers timeless, high-quality pieces, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Sensitive to responsible consumption, she appreciates unique details and noble materials. She looks for elegant, long-lasting accessories that reflect her personal, refined style.