GET TO KNOW OUR VALUES
Our Genesis
Six years ago, a new mother was perusing the world’s biggest mall in search of some footwear for her newborn son. After a long search where she found convoluted, hard soled footwear she realized that there was little by way of breathable organic footwear and that did not sit well with her.
Maison Eli was born out of a mother's love to create the best and most comfortable shoes for her newborn son. The first step was finding the right material. And for that it was imperative that the material be sustainable and traceable. After a long search we found a local tannery which fulfilled our requirements and that is how our love for leather was born.
We sourced a leather tanned with vegetable and fruit extracts. In its infancy the brand focused solely on footwear for children. After quickly achieving success in that field we answered the demands for an adult leather line.
A firm believer in craftsmanship, we spent hours understanding the skills and intricacies of traditional leather craftsmanship, thereby refining our skill set. We successfully translated our creativity and deep understanding of leather into developing stylish, functional and sophisticated pieces under the Maison Eli line.
Our Philosophy
Quality and sustainability are the key to Maison Eli's philosophy. When we were looking for our main material we were adamant that we wanted to source something local in keeping with our ethos. Our tannery is a short drive from our studio. The hides are the by-product of the meat industry.
A reflection of our passion for sustainable materials and stylish designs, Maison Eli's collection is handcrafted to perfection at our artisanal studio. Every knot, every stitch is done using traditional methods without the use of heavy machinery. Our skilled leather artisans make a variety of products using the finest vegetable tanned leather making Maison Eli standout as handcrafted luxury.
Our collection comprises timeless designs that can be passed down from one generation to another.
Our Founder
Hello, Lydie here. I debated hiring someone to proofread and tweak the story but decided ultimately it was my story to tell and no one could tell it better. So let’s get to know me better.
A qualified lawyer by profession, I started her professional journey by practicing Corporate Commercial Law at a leading law firm in London before moving to Dubai. However, my career took a different direction with the birth of my son, Elijah. I realized there was a lack of choices when it came to purchasing comfortable, sustainably sourced leather shoes for him. Always passionate about style and sustainable materials, mainly leather, I was drawn towards creating handcrafted products.
I have always valued and appreciated craftsmanship. I liked nothing better than playing with my grandmother’s old handcrafted bags and shoes. In fact her leather cases are still one of my favorites things to peruse thirty years later.
With that in mind,I spent hours understanding the skills and intricacies of traditional leather craftsmanship. I then focused on translating my creativity and deep understanding of leather into developing stylish, functional and sophisticated pieces under the Maison Eli line.