"Friulane" slippers (sometimes referred to as Venetian slippers) were historically made from retired Venetian velvet curtains and recycled bicycle tires for the soles. In the post-war Italy, resourceful Red Cross volunteers in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region collected discarded fabrics from Venetian palazzi and melted down tires to combine and create this most comfortable footwear.
The rubber treads provide a slip-proof ride for gondoliers navigating their way through the undulating canals and serve a dual purpose because the soles won't scratch the surface of their precious lacquered boats.
Friulane are available in a variety of colors, and their reasonable price-point makes it possible to buy every color, plus an additional pair for indoor use.
Nowadays, both men and women who inhabit the former Venitian Republic adore these shoes and can be found wearing them for everything from errands to black tie events 12 months per year. One evening we went to a dinner party and all 6 of us had on various colors of these fun and comfy shoes. We had a big laugh and discussed their versatility!
The friendly shopkeeper at Nazionale in Padova sells high quality and reasonably priced slippers (€49 for women's and €55 for men's). Expect to pay more in Venice for similar quality, but Piedaterre near the Rialto Bridge does offer a wide selection of unique fabrics, so that's worth the splurge.
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