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DIRTY GREY - HANDMADE SHOES WITH LOVE FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN

Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine

Introducing Dirty Grey - the light footwear brand that makes the handmade espadrilles of your dreams! In a conversation with the founder, Angeliqa Gidlöf, we talk about Mallorca, why she decided to go with the handmade approach and what the inspiration for the designs is

Words: Emily Georgieva

Photography: Dirty Grey. Mikuta.

30 March 2020

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With summer just around the corner, it is time to start planning your next getaway adventure. The best way to begin is by making sure you're prepared and have all summer essentials, including comfortable footwear. Each time I visit a new place, I love wandering around because it gives me an authentic perspective of the destination. My number one priority for a summer holiday is bringing along a pair of shoes that are the right balance of comfort, sustainability and style. I found just the right brand - Dirty Grey!

The handmade espadrilles are a must-have for every nomadic girl. Their elegant look feels personalised as you can tie their knot in whatever style you like. Easy to carry around, they fit in any carry-on suitcase or beach bag. The espadrilles are the shoes of our dreams.

Born in Sweden, Angeliqa Gidlöf worked in the fashion industry as a styling assistant and later on an independent stylist. She had always wanted to start a brand of her own and her dream became a reality in 2017. Influenced by Mallorca where she lived for over 20 years, Angeliqa founded Dirty Grey. You can feel the rhythm of the Mediterranean lifestyle and wanderlust in the design of the footwear. The colours mimic the sandy coastlines and pastel shades of the sky; the deep blue of the ocean and the colour of the rising sun. Footwear made for the island girl, Dirty Grey will remind you of a the Mediterranean everywhere you wear them.


‘‘I just love the sea, the small villages and all the lemon trees. I want to reflect that to my designs!’’

Angeliqa Gidlöf, founder of Dirty Grey for NOMADSofORIGIN Magazine

Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine

 

 

Inspired by her mother's passion to craft, Angeliqa worked alongside her in their own little workshop for years. From shoes to bags, the two of them had fun establishing their own style in hand-making products that represented them both. Since Angeliqa started focusing on her own brand, Dirty Grey has been nothing but a success. She has had customers from Europe and beyond all the way to Australia because who wouldn't want their own pair of stilysh espadrilles that they can combine with pretty much anything!

Primarily sold online, the brand focuses on two main collections - the Nudo Collection and the Island Collection. The Island Collection was the first one released and comes in 7 colours - from brown sand to summer pink, blue lagoon and beige love, take your pick. Keep an eye out for any limited edition items that Angeliqa works on seasonally to bring some more fun into the brand.

Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine

 

 

NOMADSofORIGIN:  Dirty Grey are handmade and each product you sell is unique. Why did you decide to go with this approach and put so much attention into every pair of shoes?

Angeliqa: I grew up watching my mom sew, so I must have got it from her ;) For years before I started my brand, we both have been making bags and clothes just for fun in our workshop. So I've always loved handmade, I think it is more fun and special to put more love in each product and then see people around the world wearing my designs and what I've been making with so much love in our workshop.

 

NOMADSofORIGIN: Where do you find inspiration for the design of the espadrilles?

Angeliqa: I find my inspiration here on our island, Mallorca. I'm from Sweden, but moved here 20 years ago and just love the sea, the small villages and all the lemon trees. I want to reflect that to my designs: Mediterranean-summer-girl with style!

 

NOMADSofORIGIN: As a Mediterranean based brand, you’ve decided to donate 10€ of each sale to the Spanish hospitals to support their restless fight to keep people safe and healthy. Do you think more fashion brands, independent or bigger ones, need to take this approach and help out their local communities?

Angeliqa: Definitely, I think we should all help each other during this time. As we all need to continue to sell and keep the economy going, doing this donation is a good way for us all to help in some way.

Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Dirty Grey for ORIGIN Magazine
Photography: Aura House
Photography: Aura House

 

 

NOMADSofORIGIN: We love the espadrilles! There are so much different designs and colours to choose from that it’s hard to decide which ones to order. What are your favourite designs from the collections?

Angeliqa: Thank you :) My favourites are our Nudo collection that comes in many different colours, it's also our best-seller. I see them as the signature piece of the brand. But I'm obsessed with every new collection that we launch!

 

NOMADSofORIGIN: Is there a designer or fashion brand that you love, and we should know about?

Angeliqa: I love 'For love and lemons', 'Steele Label' and 'Sezane' summer collections. Those brands give me a lot of inspiration and I think our espadrilles matches perfectly with their clothes.

NOMADSofORIGIN: Your shoes are made for the nomadic traveller so that people who love heading to sunny destinations can feel comfortable in their footwear and look stylish. What are the places your team can’t resist visiting whenever they book a holiday?

Angeliqa: Wherever there are beaches and small towns to that holiday evening! Magical places like Balearic island and the coast of Italy, and Sri Lanka and Costa Rica for more adventure, for example :)

NOMADSofORIGIN: We love seeing brands that put so much attention into what they do. Your handmade style is inspiring. What should we expect from Dirty Grey in the future?

Angeliqa: We are hoping for many more collections! Every season we add some new espadrilles collections to the family and we love making limited edition collections like bags, baskets...It's always fun for our costumers to buy limited edition products that are more unique and there's not many of them!

NOMADSofORIGIN: Thank you so much for this interview. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Angeliqa: Thank you very much!! We are very happy that our small brand, crafted on our little island, can reach so many places around the world and we are forever grateful for all of you that support small businesses! 

Shop the products online
See below some of the products we love. Follow the brand on social media.

NOMADSofORIGIN x Dirty Grey

jasmin-chew
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NOMADSofORIGIN is an independent annual publication with a focus on sustainable travelling and global cultural values. Each issue features interviews, engaging articles and photo guides, which take our nomadic readers through different destinations and introduce them to local people's perspectives.

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