This week, we’re giving you, dear HiP Paris Blog readers, another great reason to be extra merry! It’s time for our holiday giveaway, and this time, we’ve teamed up with beautiful French shoe brand Pied de Biche to give one lucky reader a fabulous pair of leather shoes – to enter, follow the instructions on our Instagram post! The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve. Bonne chance!
HiP Paris writer Ali Postma recently sat down with Jerome, one of the founders of Pied de Biche, one of our favorite French craft shoe brands, to discuss how the it all began, the inspiration behind the brand, and what’s next for them.
In 2015, founders Jerome and Matthieu saw a gap in the affordable high-end leather footwear market in France. So they created their first Chelsea boot and started an online crowdfunding campaign. Having sold 800 pairs in just four weeks, Pied de Biche was officially born.
While initially an online-only store, they often welcomed customers in their office, tucked away in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, to try on shoes. As the demande for their shoes grew, they decided to open their first store in the Marais in 2017, and the following year they opened their second outpost in Montmartre.
Pied de Biche creates high quality leather footwear and accessories for both men and women. They offer various styles of boots as well as derbies, loafers, boat shoes, sneakers, high heels, and sandals. They also make accessories including leather wallets and belts, socks, and a range of leather shoe care products.
Everything is designed in Paris, crafted from Italian leather, and made in Porto, Portugal (with the exception of their socks, which are made in Limoges, France). Jerome and Mathieu are inspired by the precision and accuracy of artisan shoemakers and craftsmanship, regularly visiting Portugal to personally supervise every new piece they create.
For men, they focus on classic everyday shoes, and they offer a pair for every occasion. Each shoe is bi-material, featuring a small added detail which is the signature of the brand. For women, they get a little more creative, always adding new styles and features such as metallic details, prints, and metal studs.
What does the future hold for Pied de Biche? Jerome and Matthieu hope to open more stores in Paris and in cities around France and expand their leather accessories range. But for now, you can check out their shoes here (they ship internationally!).
Addresses
Pied de Biche Marais – 5 Rue Commines, 75003
Pied de Biche Montmartre – 9 Rue des Abbesses, 75018
Related Links
- Check out the Paris winter fashion style from the runway.
- Discover some of our other favorite French accessories brands.
- And, how to look Parisian.
Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. All photos by Julien Hausherr. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.
