Sole Sisters: Learning How To Craft Sandals The Italian Way On The Amalfi Coast

What happens when women say YES to a creative journey at the Amalfi Coast? Sandals, heritage, and a sisterhood for life.

The Amalfi Coast has long been known for its handcrafted, custom-made sandals. Jackie Kennedy, Sophia Loren, and Grace Kelly all wore them in the 1960s and 1970s, and to this day, women still line up outside those beautiful sandal shops in Capri and Positano to customise their own pair.

But for four women who joined me on a luxury creative journey in Italy, it wasn’t just about buying sandals. It was about learning to make them, immersing themselves in a craft born here, and building memories (and futures) that will last a lifetime.

Some experiences are too magical to plan ... they simply happen.

We came together almost by chance. A handful of weeks, a single call, and four women from completely different walks of life said YES to an adventure that would take them deep into the birthplace of bespoke Italian sandal making.

In workshops overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea they learned traditional techniques of shoemaking. They met suppliers, touched the finest Italian materials, and, to their own amazement, began crafting beautiful sandals themselves within the very first day.

Each woman carried her own story, her own reason for being there.

• A mum whose children had just left for college, fulfilling her dream of starting a luxury sandal brand, just like the Italian brands she had adored for many years.

• Another, a sourcing professional who had spent decades searching for true quality in footwear & finally found it here, in the craft itself.

• A third, a veteran, rediscovering her purpose through creativity and building a life on her own terms.

• And a young mum who has been dreaming of building her own business. She had never heard of this craft before, but said yes instantly, and fell in love with it from the very first sandal she made.

• And me, fulfilling a lifelong dream of bringing women together, in this paradise, around the craft that I love so deeply and that I now get to share with them.

We came together to craft, to explore, to lay the foundation for futures yet to build and what we found was that, and more. 

Connection, Creativity, joy... The laughter under the lemon trees, the long days of deep immersion in the wonderful world of Italian craftsmanship, the shared awe of holding their very first pair and realising, “I did this.”

We began calling ourselves the Sole Sisters ... a play on the soul of the craft, the sole of the sandal, and the bond that had formed between us.

And beyond the memories, each walked away with more than just sandals. They carried the start of something new: brands, ideas, visions of what their life could look like if they built around this timeless tradition.

The Beginning of a New Chapter

What happened in Capri was the beginning of a path paved with artistry, intention, and possibility. And perhaps most importantly, a reminder of what’s possible when you say yes to your creativity, to connection, and to adventure.

Each of these women will continue their journey in her own unique way and I can't wait to see their boutique businesses and brands come to life.