Mediterranean craft reimagined for modern travellers
Italian brand Manebí was founded in 2013 by two Milan-based friends, Antonello Benati and Vera Drossopulo Bogdano, who set out to reinvent the espadrille during a summer in Saint-Tropez. What emerged was a label grounded in the Mediterranean way of life, shaped by craft, curiosity and quiet refinement.
Benati recalled that the idea struck during a shared moment of instinct, when he and his co-founder realised no one had truly modernised resort footwear while keeping its artisanal soul intact. “We recognised a space between luxury fashion and the relaxed rhythm of coastal living,” he said. “Our vision was clear: to create enduring pieces that embody the Mediterranean way of life, refined, free-spirited, and made to travel the world with ease.”
That impulse soon inspired the name. Manebí is taken from a serene district of Saint Tropez, the place where the concept first came alive. It was chosen not for cleverness but for its feeling. “It reflects that golden, sun-drenched sense of endless summer,” Benati said. “We wanted a name that sounded instinctive and evocative, one that spoke to travel and genuine experience rather than trends.”
It set the tone for a brand built around slower living, appreciation for craft and the beauty of simplicity.
ORIGINS AND ETHOS
At its core, Manebí follows a single guiding principle: to create lasting essentials for modern travellers that evoke escape, openness and quiet sophistication. Every decision is shaped by intention. “We believe in a slower, more conscious approach that values precision, emotion and durability,” Benati said.
The early years demanded conviction, especially because the brand launched with just one product. “The greatest challenge was to remain faithful to our idea in a world that rewards immediacy,” he said. “Launching with a single product meant proving that focus could be more powerful than constant reinvention.” The lesson, he explained, was simple. Consistency builds trust. By excelling at one thing, they laid the foundation for an entire world to grow naturally without compromising the brand’s essence of quality and quiet elegance.
DESIGN, CRAFT, AND EVOLUTION
Manebí’s design DNA expresses what the founders call natural sophistication. Benati described the aesthetic as sunlit, tactile and fluid. “Each piece conveys the Mediterranean state of mind through pure shapes, tactile materials and sun-washed hues,” he said.
Their shoes are feather-light, adaptable and polished without being loud. Comfort and detail are non-negotiable, with every weave and proportion deliberately considered. What makes a product distinctly theirs is the instinctive harmony that makes the designs feel effortless, as if shaped by the ease of coastal life. The brand’s evolution has always been demand-led rather than strategy-led. Manebí became synonymous with modern espadrilles, but customers wanted more of the world the founders had created.
“People did not just want the shoe, they wanted the universe that came with it,” Benati said. This led to a natural expansion into beachwear, ready-to-wear and accessories, all developed with the same aesthetic consistency and artisanal integrity. “We never planned to become a lifestyle label; it unfolded naturally,” he added.
Inspiration remains rooted in travel and sensory experience: a play of light in Portofino, the colours of the sea, the scent of linen. Benati explained that trends are observed but not chased. “We prefer intuition to imitation,” he said. “We design for permanence, not novelty.”
THE ARTISANS BEHIND THE BRAND
Craftsmanship forms the backbone of Manebí’s identity. From the beginning, Benati and Bogdano chose to produce where traditional knowledge still thrives. They collaborate with small, family-run workshops and ateliers across Italy, Spain, India and Madagascar, supporting local artisans and respecting regional craft heritage.
Each product reflects its origin: espadrilles hand stitched in La Rioja in Spain, where artisans shape soles from natural jute and rubber; leather sandals crafted with precision in India; raffia bags woven by a women’s cooperative in Madagascar using fibres from protected palm groves.
“This network of skilled artisans represents the true essence of Manebí,” Benati said. The brand works closely with each workshop to minimise waste, preserve traditional techniques and ensure responsible production. “Sustainability is not a slogan but a daily practice,” he added.
Beyond making beautiful products, Manebí aims to empower the communities that sustain its craftsmanship. Every stitch and weave reflects a story of care, connection and shared values, embodying the idea that fashion made responsibly can hold both elegance and purpose.
