“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts.” – Ray Eames

Human beings have long been drawn to beautiful things. A work of art or a vivid landscape can give the beholder endless pleasure. Good design, however, is more than just the creation of beautiful things. That is something that Ray Eames  understood more than most. 

She was half of one of the most prolific and influential creative teams of the 20^thCentury. Ray was the inspiration and co-talent behind iconic mid-century designs such as the Eames plastic chair and the ‘Hang It All’ coat rack. Together with her husband, Charles, she helped to shape American Modernism in the early 1950s.

Combining art, science, architecture and style, the Eames’ designs were not just about making beautiful things but were also concerned with their function.  That’s what we love about Ray and why we know that just making beautiful shoes doesn’t cut it unless they feel good too.

Ray’s early career

Ray’s artistic talent was recognised early on. In her younger years, she studied with the German Abstract Expressionist Hans Hoffman. She then went onto further training at the Art Academy in Cranbrook Michigan where she met her future husband Charles.

In 1941, the couple set up a design office together in Southern California.  This was the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration. They experimented with making furniture using a wide array of materials – from leather to plywood, fibreglass to aluminium. They wanted to create objects that looked good, worked well and that could be reproduced at a reasonable cost.

Ray was known for her energetic spirit and witty personality. She had an obsessive attention to detail and was painstaking about every element of her designs. She wanted everything to be perfect – now that’s a sentiment that we fully understand!

Sante + Wade Craftsmanship

“The details are not the details; the details make the product.’’ – Ray Eames

At Sante and Wade, we try to emulate the magnificent Ray Eames when we make our footwear, so we’ve learned a thing or two about form and function. We are not in the business of hurting your feet. Instead, we’ve designed shoes for the way they look and the way they feel.

• We pride ourselves on delivering a premium product for everyone who wears our shoes.
• Our product development starts with the creation of bespoke lasts in the UK.
• Then, our shoes are handmade in a Portuguese factory, which has decades of shoemaking pedigree
• We use superior memory foam and cushioning materials, so our styles are always super-comfortable underfoot.
• Support and adjustability are always incorporated into our designs.
• We are continuing to develop new technical components that will improve the wearability of our shoes. Watch this space!

Ray Eames has inspired us to make shoes thoughtfully, with the intention that they last a lifetime. If you fancy a pair of stylish and comfortable shoes, please take a look at our collection.  With styles that look and feel this goof, you’ll never want to take them off!