Carmina Shoemaker

Matías Pujadas opened his workshop in Inca, Mallorca in 1866, establishing a family shoemaking business that would continue for over 150 years. His son Mateo Pujadas expanded the operation, opening one of the first Goodyear welted shoe factories in the Balearic Islands in 1905. This marked the family's adoption of Goodyear welt construction, a method that would define their manufacturing approach for subsequent generations.

José Albaladejo Pujadas, the founder's great-grandson, trained with master shoemakers in Florence before returning to expand the family business. In 1961, he established Yanko, which grew into one of Spain's largest shoe companies, producing approximately one million pairs annually during the 1980s. However, by the late 1990s, Yanko faced challenges competing with lower-cost manufacturers.

In 1997, José Albaladejo Pujadas founded Carmina Albaladejo Shoemaker with his wife and sons, shifting focus from volume production to handcrafted luxury footwear. The new brand prioritized traditional construction methods and strict quality controls, positioning Carmina as a producer of premium hand-welted shoes. The company continues as a family-owned business managed by the fifth generation of Pujadas shoemakers.

All production occurs at the company's Inca facility, employing approximately 150 workers. Each pair of shoes requires 15 to 20 days to complete, progressing through 11 distinct production stages: last preparation, design, pattern making, material selection, cutting, sewing, assembly, and welting stitching, among others. The company maintains traditional methods established over a century ago, with master last-makers creating lasts using techniques passed down through generations and patterns developed using traditional approaches. All cutting is performed by hand.

Carmina employs Goodyear welt construction exclusively, a method where the upper, lining, and welt are sewn to the insole, then the outsole is attached to the welt through stitching. This construction allows shoes to be resoled multiple times throughout their lifespan. The manufacturing process uses machines as complementary tools while prioritizing handwork, with the premium Santos line completed 80% manually without machinery assistance. All shoes undergo stringent quality controls at multiple production stages.

The company sources shell cordovan from Horween Leather Company in Chicago. The cordovan undergoes vegetable tanning in pits for approximately 60 days as part of a process lasting up to six months, resulting in leather with distinctive smoothness and luster available in burgundy, brown, and black variations.

The product range encompasses men's and women's footwear across multiple categories including Oxfords, Derbies, monk straps, loafers, and various boot styles such as Chelsea boots and chukka boots. The company offers both standard ready-to-wear collections and seasonal offerings, along with limited edition releases.

The company has developed several proprietary lasts that define shoe shapes and fit characteristics. The Rain last features a chisel toe and represents the brand's most recognized last design. The Forest last presents a blunt, rounded toe profile. The Oscar last offers a sturdy, classic shape with a subtly rounded toe and wider toe box, designed to accommodate shell cordovan's characteristics.

Carmina provides made-to-order (MTO) services for dress and casual shoes, typically priced around €450, with production completed in batches within 75 days after order periods close. The company also offers a bespoke service utilizing 3D scanning technology to create custom lasts for individual feet. This service captures detailed foot measurements through millions of data points, enabling pattern customization and resulting in shoes with personalized fit. Bespoke orders start from €1,500 to $1,655 and include custom lasts and shoe trees, with production occurring on the regular factory line with lastmaker consultation.

The company operates retail locations in New York, Paris, Madrid, Singapore, Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca, supplemented by authorized retailers internationally.