SABOT YOUYOU – French Clog-Making Heritage Since 1803

Born in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France,
SABOT YOUYOU has been preserving and reinventing the art of clog-making since 1803.

YOUYOU – Distinctive for Over Two Centuries

A touch of whimsy, elegance and freedom for the women of the coast… all in a pair of clogs!

Founded in Les Sables-d'Olonne in 1803, SABOT YOUYOU is a French clog-making house where heritage meets contemporary design. For over two centuries, the house has kept alive the free-spirited tradition of the clogs of Les Sables-d'Olonne, once proudly worn by coastal women for celebrations, ceremonies and Sunday outings.

In this family photograph, our grandmother reminds us that the story of YOUYOU is also one of traditions passed down through generations, of women and family heritage.

Were the women of Les Sables-d'Olonne ahead of their time? Quite possibly. A love of style, boldness and independence are certainly part of a legacy that SABOT YOUYOU continues to celebrate through its collections today.

This is the remarkable story of a centuries-old French house that has never stopped evolving.

Mr. & Mrs. YOU

YOUYOU – Born of a Love Story

1803. Young Pierre YOU, a clog maker, settles in the district known as Le Passage in Les Sables-d'Olonne, connecting the beach to the harbour. At the time, more than twenty clog makers dedicate their craftsmanship to the town's celebrated wooden shoes, an essential part of the local cultural heritage.

1907. Two YOUs, united in love and style — could such a thing be possible? And yet, the fairy tale begins when Henri YOU, son of Pierre YOU, marries Élise YOU, a ladies' dressmaker and daughter of another Pierre YOU, a hairdresser by trade.
Their midsummer marriage, perfectly suited to the spirit of a seaside town, brings a son, Léon, and a boutique destined to become iconic.
A symbol of the architectural heritage of Les Sables-d'Olonne, the boutique stands out with its ornate balustrades, sculpted floral garlands and the majestic YOUYOU clog proudly crowning its façade.
A true local institution, it would welcome generations of women from Les Sables-d'Olonne, devoted to the elegance of fashionable clogs. These iconic wooden shoes were the centrepiece of their finest outfits, worn for special occasions alongside delicate lace-trimmed blouses and proudly displayed cameo brooches.

The Rise to Cult Status

1964. Léon YOU hands over the family business to Pierre Billet, who brings a bold new spirit to the collection with colourful, open-toed clogs reimagined as sandals.

Creativity and craftsmanship come together through Hector Cordova, a master shoemaker whose skills could be admired firsthand as he worked. Customers could even commission their own personalised pair of clogs, guided by the expert advice of Maryse, Pierre's daughter and the charismatic ambassador of a brand whose creations were also available by mail order.

Catching the eye of a leading name in French fashion, SABOT YOUYOU went on to collaborate with agnès b. at the dawn of the clog's revival in French women's wardrobes.

When the Stars Aligned

2018. The time has come for the Billet family to retire, and the iconic boutique closes its doors, much to the dismay of the people of Les Sables-d'Olonne. Who will carry on the YOUYOU legacy? This family brand deserves to remain in trusted, experienced hands, preferably those of someone with roots in Les Sables-d'Olonne. And that is when Charlotte Durand, a fashion professional and a native of the town, enters the story.

2020. At the time, Charlotte is pursuing a successful career as a production director, working with some of France's leading fashion designers. Longing to return to her roots and embark on a personal venture, she passionately embraces this extraordinary opportunity: to write the next chapter of the YOUYOU story, in her own way.

As a child, she had loved nothing more than visiting the clog maker's workshop with her sisters, just next door to her grandmother's house, soaking up its unique atmosphere…
The scent of leather, the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of nails against wooden soles, and the dream of one day, perhaps very soon, owning a pair of those wonderful colourful clogs herself.

YOUYOU: A Must-Have, Still a Family Affair

Having already anticipated the rise of sneakers in fashion, Charlotte takes the reins of YOUYOU just as clogs are making a remarkable comeback — and in the midst of a global pandemic. The challenge is immense, but her determination is unwavering. Under her creative direction, a new generation of YOUYOU designs comes to life, expertly developed by a footwear specialist from Cholet and handcrafted by a carefully selected group of skilled artisans.

YOUYOU continues to grow as a family affair. Charlotte's sister, Claire, oversees e-commerce, while an extended family of boutiques across France and abroad inspires stylish women, effortlessly pairing YOUYOU clogs with contemporary silhouettes.

These boutiques carry on the spirit of the beloved shop in Les Sables-d'Olonne: welcoming places where people come to browse, chat, discover and share a passion for beautiful things. They bring our clogs to women by the sea and in the city alike, with designs whose names are playfully reinvented around the letter “Y” — a tribute to the founding clog maker, whose legacy remains close to our hearts.
A family that continues to grow, day after day, and a YOUYOU clog that keeps reinventing itself, evolving alongside women's lives and becoming a timeless icon in its own right!

An Eye for Detail

  • Universal Silhouettes

    Behind every SABOT YOUYOU creation lie many hours of meticulous design and development. Each style features clean, refined lines and an easy-to-wear silhouette, thoughtfully designed to suit a wide range of foot shapes and ages.

  • Beautiful Studs, Beautiful Buckles

    Driven by our love of detail, we leave nothing to chance when designing our clogs. Every stud, buckle and signature stamped emblem is carefully fitted in-house. These exquisite finishing touches make each pair truly special.

  • Carefully Crafted, Long-Lasting Finishes

    We are passionate about creating exceptional footwear with meticulous attention to detail. That is why we favour handcrafted finishes, chosen for their durability and their ability to make every pair truly unique.

  • Attention to Detail, Right Down to the Packaging

    Our shoe boxes offer a clever and elegant way to organise your footwear. Each box features a practical drawer with a sliding front opening, making storage both stylish and convenient.

Our Materials and Craftsmanship

We take great care in selecting our materials and the workshops we work with. Italian leather, French linden wood and handcrafted production in Portugal are at the heart of SABOT YOUYOU. Each material is carefully chosen for its unique qualities and origin, while every partner is selected for their craftsmanship and expertise.

Our Selection of Materials

We carefully select Italian leathers sourced from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG). Our leather supplier holds a Gold rating.

For our soles, we favour linden wood sourced from responsibly managed French forests.

Some of our leathers are chrome-free and vegetable-tanned, using natural plant-based tannins.

Our Selection of Workshops

Our manufacturing workshops are located in Portugal, a country renowned for its shoemaking expertise. We work with small-scale workshops carefully selected for their technical expertise and exceptional artisanal craftsmanship.

Each pair is carefully crafted and assembled. The meticulous work involved in shaping the leather, wood and finishing details gives every design its unique character.

Our Packaging

Our shoe boxes are made from recycled materials. Practical and thoughtfully designed with a sliding drawer, they can also be reused as storage boxes for small items at home or at school.

Each box features a label with a description and an illustration of the design, making it easy to find the pair you're looking for.