A pair of espadrilles starts as canvas and ends as your souvenir. In this Barcelona workshop, you design and assemble a traditional shoe with an artisan team, with time for history, materials, and hands-on fitting. It is a simple concept, but the details are where it gets fun.

I especially like the custom design part, because you can choose base size, stitching style, and lace options so your pair feels truly yours. I also like that the class runs like a real shop, with tools, materials, and finished products all around you while you learn what makes espadrilles work.

One possible drawback to consider: you are paying for a finished pair made during the session, so it is not a quick photo stop. Also, you need to get yourself to Carrer d’Avinyó, 8, since transportation is not included.

Key highlights

• Design your own espadrilles by choosing base size, stitching style, and lace color and type
• Pick from a huge combination list (the shop mentions 100k+ possible combinations)
• Learn lacing techniques so your shoes feel right, not just look good
• History in plain language on how a humble people’s shoe became modern fashion
• Cava or non-alcoholic drinks plus light snacks during the workshop
• Take home a wearable pair made during the experience

Inside the HANDMADE THE BRAND workshop, you build a shoe from scratch

This is not a lecture with a craft at the end. The workshop is set up like a working artisanal shop, with tools, materials, and finished espadrilles visible from the start. You meet inside the HANDMADE THE BRAND® shop at Carrer d’Avinyó, 8, and then you get pulled into the process.

The big win is that you are not just watching how espadrilles are made. You are making decisions. You start by choosing the key parts of your pair, including your base size and stitching style. Then you move into the lace choices, including color and type. That is how you get a souvenir that looks like Barcelona, but also fits your tastes.

I also like the way the class mixes creativity with precision. Espadrilles look casual, but getting the layout right, especially around fit and lacing, takes real attention. The format gives you the chance to slow down and do it with help from the artisans.

What actually happens during the 2-hour session

Plan on about 2 hours in the shop. Exact start times vary, so check availability when you book. Your session has a clear rhythm, and you feel it as soon as you walk in.

First, you get oriented in the workshop space. You see the materials and tools used for espadrilles, and you get a guided look at how this footwear tradition evolved. The idea is to make you understand not only what you are building, but why this shoe became such a big deal in Catalonia and beyond.

Then comes the customizing phase. You work with the artisans to design your pair step by step. The setup is practical: you choose a base size, pick a stitching style, and select lace colors and lace type. After that, the session shifts into putting your choices together.

Finally, you learn how to lace your espadrilles. This matters more than it sounds. Many people buy espadrilles that look good in a store photo, then struggle with fit at home. Here, you get guided help so you can actually wear what you made.

At the end, you take your completed pair with you. Reviews consistently emphasize the fact that you leave with shoes you can wear right away, not just a craft project that stays unfinished.

Choosing laces, colors, and stitching options like an artisan

The customization is where this class feels most rewarding. The workshop states you are choosing from 100k+ different combinations, so you are not stuck with a few pre-set options.

Here is how your choices usually break down:

• You select the base size.
• You choose a stitching style.
• You pick lace color and lace type.

Then you get coached on how to make your choices work as a pair. The artisans help you think about fit and how your shoe will sit once it is laced. That hands-on coaching is exactly why so many people rate this workshop so highly.

In real life, fit can be the make-or-break detail for flat sandals and casual footwear. One review even notes that the instructor team helped get the espadrilles to fit properly, with close attention from the start. Another mentions you might get personalized guidance depending on who is in your session.

If you love styling, this is also a fun chance to go beyond safe colors. The workshop gives you options, so you can match them to what you are already packing for Barcelona, or pick something that will be a conversation starter back home.

Learning why espadrilles became a fashion trend

You will spend time on the story of espadrilles during the workshop. They started as a humble people’s shoe and later became a fashion trend, and the artisans explain the transformation in a way that stays grounded in everyday life rather than dry facts.

I like this part because it gives meaning to a souvenir. If you know why something exists, you remember it longer. And it is easier to appreciate the craft when you understand the shoe’s job in its original context.

You also pick up practical perspective on what makes espadrilles special. They are traditionally tied to Catalan and Spanish identity, and you get a sense of how a working-class shoe can end up in modern wardrobes without losing its character.

Cava, snacks, and the friendly shop vibe

This workshop comes with snacks and a drink option. The experience includes cava, or you can choose a non-alcoholic drink if you tell the team in advance. Reviews mention water and orange juice alongside cava, plus light snacks and treats during the session, like breadsticks and biscuits.

That small hospitality layer matters. A craft class can feel like a chore if you are rushing or tired. Here, you get a relaxed tempo. You can ask questions. You can slow down when you are choosing laces. You can focus on making something you will actually want to wear.

It also helps that the instructors are described as upbeat, patient, and hands-on. Names that show up in reviews include Annie, Stephanie, Pamela, Pilu, Luis, Eva, Nina, and Sonu. You may not get the same team, but the consistent thread is attention and encouragement, especially when it comes to getting the fit right.

Comfort and fit: what to expect once you lace up your own pair

Espadrilles can look simple, but comfort is not automatic. The workshop’s focus on fit and lacing is one of the reasons people come away impressed.

What you can expect from the experience itself:

• You design with support, including guidance on sizing choices.
• You learn different ways to lace the shoes.
• You leave with a pair that reviewers describe as comfortable, not just decorative.

When you take your shoes home, the best practical move is to practice the lacing method the artisans taught you. That is the quickest way to recreate the fit you worked on in the shop.

Also, treat the first wear as part of the souvenir experience. You just built these, so wear them soon and get a feel for how the laces hold and adjust. If you are packing for Barcelona walking days, this is a smart way to get something wearable that still feels special.

Price and value: is $118 per person fair?

At $118 per person for a 2-hour workshop, this is not a budget activity. But the value case is fairly strong for what you get.

You are paying for:

• The workshop visit and instruction
• Snacks
• A pair of espadrilles made as part of the session

This is key. Many souvenirs cost money and give you nothing you can use. Here, your purchase turns into an actual pair of shoes that you design and take home during the activity. Multiple reviews also call out the experience as great value, especially because the coaching feels personal and the finished product is something you can wear.

If you are the kind of traveler who likes experiences with a clear payoff, this fits. If you just want a quick buy-and-go souvenir, it might feel like more work than you want.

One more practical note: transportation is not included. So your real cost includes how you plan to reach Carrer d’Avinyó, 8.

Who should book this espadrille workshop in Barcelona?

This workshop is a good match if you like hands-on travel and you want something more meaningful than a typical store purchase. It is especially ideal for:

• People who enjoy crafting and want to learn a skill with real guidance
• Anyone who likes Catalan culture and wants a wearable takeaway
• Couples or friends who want a shared activity that still produces an individual product
• Solo travelers who want a friendly setting, with staff available in multiple languages

The session also notes private group availability, which can be smart if you want a quieter, more tailored experience. Reviews mention that group energy can get loud when multiple people are in the room, so if you are sensitive to noise, consider asking about private options.

On the access side, the workshop lists wheelchair accessibility, which is worth checking if that is part of your planning.

Language support includes Catalan, English, French, Spanish, and Chinese. So even if you do not speak Spanish, you should be able to follow along and ask questions without feeling lost.

How to plan your day around this class

Because the experience is only 2 hours, you can slot it into a day without wrecking your schedule. What matters most is arriving on time and having your transportation sorted.

Your meeting point is clear: check in with staff inside the HANDMADE THE BRAND® shop on Carrer d’Avinyó, 8. That makes it easier than activities that use a vague outdoor meetup.

I also recommend treating the class as the main event for that time block. You will be customizing and learning lacing techniques, and you want a little buffer so you are not rushing to dinner immediately after.

If you are visiting in a busy season, booking ahead is smart, since class start times depend on availability.

Should you book this Barcelona espadrilles workshop?

If you want a custom, wearable souvenir and you enjoy learning by doing, I think this is a strong pick. The mix of design choices, hands-on instruction, and take-home shoes is the kind of “payoff you can see” that makes experiences worth it.

Skip it only if you want a passive activity, or if you are hoping for a cheap, quick taste of something without actually making the product. Also consider noise if you prefer quiet, and think about private group options if you want a calmer workshop.

Overall, this is the rare activity where the craft is the point, and the result is something you will actually use. For $118, you are not buying a trinket. You are buying a pair of shoes with your own input baked into them.