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EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Pair of women's open-toe, high-heeled ankle-strap (slingback) sandals in black leather. The vamp is a strappy, semi-caged arrangement of multiple narrow leather straps combined with plaited/braided leather elements crossing the instep and toe. A thin adjustable ankle strap with a small metal buckle secures the heel. Heels are tall, sculpted, curved ("comma"-profile) covered in black leather over a leather sole; the toe is open and tapered. Footbeds are natural tan leather bearing the maker's foil label at the arch. The two shoes match in material, strapwork, heel, and label and form an original pair.

EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals - Image 2 EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals - Image 2
EMPROVA black leather high-heeled ankle-strap sandals - Image 2

2025.6.32

Belonged to Mirta Martínez, who obtained directly from the factory, where she briefly worked helping her brother, who was the director (CEO). Mirta treasured the shoes and did not allow her daughter to wear them, keeping them for special occasions. Mirta's brother returned to Cuba from abroad, where he worked as a diplomat, in 1989, and was then given the position of EMPROVA's CEO.

The maker, EMPROVA (Empresa de Producciones Varias), was a state enterprise producing assorted goods. The form — a strappy high-heeled evening sandal — represents domestic dress production rather than the utilitarian state output (military/work boots, school "Pionero" shoes) that otherwise dominated; state production largely could not move much beyond military and work boots, prophylactic, and school footwear, making decorative women's sandals a comparatively scarcer line.

The Martínez Suquet family collection

Mirta Martínez Forteza collection

2025.6

Mirta Suquet

Gift

Sandals

Female

Leather

Black

EMPROVA

circa 1989

1980s

Cuba

Caribbean

Central America

Label

insole

Producido por EMPROVA

Spanish

Produced by EMPROVA

Label

Insole foil label at the arch (enhanced and legible): a gold stylized monogram/emblem at top, then "PRODUCIDO POR / EMPROVA / Cuba" ("Cuba" in red).

Size 7 (US Women's shoe size)

Two shoes (left and right)

Good

Mirta Martínez Forteza

owner

Pinar del Río

Pinar del Río

Cuba

Caribbean

Central America

use