When the label was first established – in 2009 by Jonathan Agrifoglio and Jérémy Amar in Aix-en-Provence in the South of France – its goal was to reimagine the design of the espadrille, giving the traditional summer shoe new life as a stylish, contemporary piece of footwear. In 2014, the brand finally shifted its primary focus to sneakers, applying its signature Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic to its new offering. Crafted in family-owned workshops in Portugal, Zespà's footwear uses the highest quality full-grain calf leathers from European tanneries.