Alexandre Birman’s Freja 85 Golden sandal redefines minimalist luxury

Alexandre Birman’s approach to the sandal has always been one of considered geometry: the shoe as an exercise in line and balance, in what can be removed rather than added. The Freja 85 Golden exemplifies this philosophy with particular grace. A cream leather upper is worked with rectangular cutouts that echo the architect’s sketch, while a darker leather ankle strap in charcoal pulls the silhouette taut. The heel itself is architectural, a bold rectangular block in dark leather that grounds the shoe with understated command.

What makes this shoe remarkable is its restraint. The cutwork might easily tip into decoration, but here each aperture serves the silhouette, creating visual rhythm without noise. The toe is open, the vamp plays with negative space, and the overall effect reads as a meditation on proportion rather than embellishment. The contrast between the cream leather body and the charcoal leather detailing, including the ankle strap with its neat buckle fastening, creates a quiet sophistication that speaks to those who understand that luxury often whispers.

The 85 millimetre heel height sits at that precise point between day and evening, practical enough for extended wear yet elevated enough to command attention. Finished in brass hardware and constructed with the precision Birman has long brought to footwear, the Freja 85 Golden sits comfortably within the designer’s broader aesthetic: Brazilian sensuality tempered by European minimalism, craft led and utterly uncompromising.

Imagery courtesy of Alexandre Birman (@alexandrebirman).