Gustavia
French shoes, made by Carlos Santos in Portugal
French brand, manufactured by Carlos Santos in Portugal. No in-house production. Website unreachable since February 2026, activity to be confirmed.
Philosophy
Classic shoes with custom patina, made by Carlos Santos in Portugal. Founded by Samy Gouasmia, Altan Bottier co-founder. Paris 1st arrondissement boutique.
History
Samy Gouasmia co-founded Altan Bottier in 1998, a Parisian brand known for custom-patinated shoes. In 2015, he launches Gustavia Shoes from 56 rue de l'Arbre Sec, Paris 1st arrondissement.
The concept: classic Goodyear welt shoes with custom patina, manufactured by Carlos Santos in Portugal. Carlos Santos makes for half the French brands in this segment - Emling, Septième Largeur, Gustavia, same factory, same base quality, different labels. The consumer pays for the Parisian brand markup, the 1st arrondissement boutique, and the patina service.
The patina is the real differentiator - hand-dyed in-store with custom color choices. Real craftsmanship. But it dresses up standard Carlos Santos, not bespoke. If you want a custom-patinated shoe in Paris with boutique service, Gustavia makes sense. If you just want the shoe, buy Carlos Santos direct and save 30-40%.
Iconic Products
Richelieu patiné sur mesure
Classic oxford, Carlos Santos Goodyear welt base, hand-patinated in-store in your chosen color. Gustavia's flagship product: a decent shoe elevated by artisanal patina work.
Derby a bout fleuri
Full brogue derby with gradient patina, the boutique's visual signature. The broguing lends itself particularly well to patina work, perforations creating depth effects in color gradients.
Chelsea Boot patiné
Smooth leather Chelsea boot, patinated in cognac, burgundy or midnight blue tones. Carlos Santos Goodyear welt construction, side elastics, elegant profile.