A race in heels. | Reuters
Inca is the town in Mallorca most closely associated with leather goods, shoemaking and footwear, but Lloseta’s history of shoemaking is similar - back to the nineteenth century.
By the 1930s, footwear was Lloseta’s principal industry. But whereas Inca underwent a process of mechanisation, Lloseta’s suffered from a lack of investment. Nevertheless, one of the great names of Mallorca’s footwear industry - Bestard, known for its excellent range of mountain boots - emerged in the 1940s.
The handmade tradition is something that Lloseta celebrates, its annual shoes and artisan fair being an occasion for local shoemakers to display their craft. And this year’s fair sees the introduction of a new event. ‘Sa Taconadèta’ comes from ‘tacons’ to mean high heels.
On Sunday there will be a high heels race. As you do.