Jaime Mascaró horsebit loafers

Jaime Mascaró loafers, likely from the 1980s or 1990s. These are a beautiful example of high-quality Spanish craftsmanship from Menorca.

The Maker: Jaime Mascaró

• Origin: The Mascaró family began making ballet slippers in Ferreries, Menorca in 1918.

• Legacy: Jaime Mascaró took over in the 1950s and transformed the workshop into a world-class factory for designer footwear. The brand is the parent company of the famous Pretty Ballerinas, a favorite of celebrities like Kate Moss and the Spanish Royal Family.

• Quality: The "Fabricado a mano en Menorca" (Handmade in Menorca) stamp on the sole is a mark of prestige. Menorca has a centuries-old tradition of shoemaking, and Mascaró is considered its most famous "export."

2. The Retailer: Ayestaran

• The gold "Ayestaran" logo inside the shoe refers to Calzados Ayestarán, a historic Spanish footwear retailer founded in the 1860s in Pamplona.

• In the mid-20th century, Ayestaran became one of the most prestigious multi-brand shoe boutiques in Northern Spain (specifically San Sebastián and Bilbao). Seeing both names means these were a special collaboration or a high-end line specifically produced by Mascaró for the Ayestaran boutiques.

3. Design Features

• Style: These are classic horsebit loafers with a mid-height block heel.

• Hardware: The gold-tone "double ring and bar" hardware is inspired by the iconic Gucci horsebit, a very popular motif for luxury loafers in the late 20th century.

• Construction: * Sole: You can see a "half-sole" rubber protector added to the leather bottom, which was a common practice to make the shoes more durable for walking on city pavements.

• Size: Marked as a 36 (European sizing).

condition New