Our Story

habbot is an independent footwear brand for individual women.

Designed in Melbourne and handmade in Le Marche, Italy, we create premium quality shoes and accessories that pair contrasting elements of the old world with the new.

Our work is a playful assembly of classic chic and contemporary edge, where traditional styles are fearlessly remixed with creative, offbeat expression.

Each standalone piece is a unique combination of shape, colour, texture, personality and purpose. But the entire collection is tied together by the original thinking and attention to detail for which habbot is known and loved.

Using the finest materials and time-honoured techniques, our shoes combine comfort and quality to gift freedom of movement wherever they go.

Full of charm, spirit and surprise, these designs are something special you won't find anywhere else.

2009

A NURTURED IDEA

During an international career in the 2000s at Net a Porter, Sass & Bide and the Melbourne based Figgins group, designer Annie Abbott quietly planned to create a brand for women who love colour and unique design, based on classic European styling, and manufactured by top Italian craftspeople.

2026

NATURAL FIT STYLES

Launching with the 'bosco' and 'corta', habbot introduces a new suite of shoes built to follow the foot's natural toe line. Relaxed, comfortable and a breath of fresh air for tricky feet, these innovative styles mark another bold move in Annie's pursuit of elegant, easy-to-wear footwear.

2025

MULTITUDES BAGS

habbot becomes an official stockist of the hand-pressed fabric handbags of Multitudes. In vivid and unique colours and styles, these pouches, mini-bags, totes and crossbody bags epitomise the habbot spirit and complement the footwear range.

2024

OUR 15th BIRTHDAY

Fifteen years of habbot is marked with a month-long celebration of events and Italian-inspired fun. An in-store pop-up Gastronomia, limited edition Glitter Icons collection, a still life drawing class and a weekend-long customer celebration are a handful of the highlights from this special milestone.

2022

WELLINGTON STREET EXPANSION

Another habbot growth spurt meant more room was required for stock, staff and customer visits, so in 2022 the retail storefront and warehouse was expanded into the larger, light-filled space next door. Our permanent address is now 98 Wellington Street, Collingwood.

2020

A SHIFT ONLINE

The global pandemic and extended Melbourne lockdowns pushed Annie and the team to innovate and adapt in new ways. The unprecedented times drove forward habbot's eCommerce offering, allowing the brand to stay alive and find new audiences around Australia and the world during a challenging period.

2018

WE OPEN OUR COLLINGWOOD STUDIO STORE

After fielding requests from customers to visit our studio to see and touch our range we created a permanent space within our Collingwood studio to do just that! We love the opportunity to meet our customers and chat with them in person just as much as they do.

2017

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The St Kilda back shed/creative studio. For two years this was the global headquarters of the habbot brand. Exciting ideas from humble beginnings.

 

WE RETEAM UP WITH ORTOLAN

Ortolan Design, stylist Kate Gaskin and photographer Isamu Sawa helped create our stunning Spring Summer 2017 campaign. As always, the brief was to create images that spoke to habbot's originality, colour and creativity.

2016

THE HABBOT SNEAKER

Ahead of an Autumn Winter 2017 launch, habbot began working with one of Italy's premier sneaker manufacturers to develop a line of sneakers. These luxe leather sneakers are designed with habbot's signature creative use of colour and texture, and are manufactured to world's best practice. A sneaker-lover since childhood, this next category chapter was a long time coming for Annie!

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The St Kilda back shed/creative studio. For two years this was the global headquarters of the habbot brand. Exciting ideas from humble beginnings.

 

FIRST EVER WAREHOUSE SALE

The overwhelming response to habbot's first ever Warehouse Sale in 2016 (initially in-store, now online) ensured it's now become an annual event in our calendar.

It's a celebration of sustainable style - each year Annie scours the factory shelves for forgotten leathers, end-of-run hides and one-off textures that never made it to production. Instead of going to waste, these materials are brought to life in small runs of limited edition shoes, exclusively for the Warehouse Sale.

2010

MYHABBOT CUSTOMISATION GOES ONLINE

Four signature habbot styles, classic derby, micro-sole derby, mid-heel pump and mid-heel sandal, can now be designed by you in store or online from anywhere in the world. Designed by you, made by us and available wherever you wear your habbots all over the world!

2015

EMMA LIPSOMBE COLLABORATION

habbot continues to embrace collaborations with creatives of all kinds. Annie works with Perth artist Emma Lipscombe, who shares a passion for geometric shapes and creative colour. Together they select a painting of striking colour and pattern, which is dye cast onto Italian leather, then designed into a small capsule collection.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The St Kilda back shed/creative studio. For two years this was the global headquarters of the habbot brand. Exciting ideas from humble beginnings.

 

THE COLLINGWOOD STUDIO

In July 2015, habbot leaves Armadale to cross the Yarra and set up our studio in Collingwood, Melbourne's bustling inner north creative hub.

 

FASHION WEEK PARTNERS

habbot has supported many Australian and New Zealand designers over the years as they showcase their collections at fashion week events. Partners have included the likes of Megan Park, Kate Sylvester, Macgraw and Akira Isogowa, as shown here.

LIBRARY - AUTUMN WINTER '15

habbot collaborates with stylist Heather Nette-King and photographer Mike Baker to shoot the AW15 'Library' series. One of our favourite campaign shoots ever, and a series of photographs that captures the essence of habbot - creativity, colour and individualism.

THE DESIGN FILES COLLABORATION

Annie is invited to design a capsule of shoes for staff at the yearly Open House of internationally renowned design blog The Design Files.

2014

THE STRAND MELBOURNE STORE

In September 2014 habbot launches a new store in the Melbourne's refurbished Strand Arcade, commissioning celebrated interior designer Fiona Lynch to create the space.

HABBOT FILMS

habbot produces a short film, 'Treasure The Ones You Love', to celebrate the 2014 Autumn Winter season.

2013

ROYAL BOTANIC RUNWAY

Annie designs a custom made footwear range for the Royal Botanic Runway, directed by Emily Ward and showcasing four of Australia's most celebrated designers: Akira Isogawa, Aurelio Costarella, Collette Dinnigan and Martin Grant.

NEW ITALIAN PARTNERS

habbot switches manufacturers to an operation in Sant’Elpidio a Mare, in the Le Marche region of Northern Italy, a centre of shoemaking tradition and excellence. This family-run factory, headed up by Paolo and Pia and their son Marco, specialises in women's boots and dress shoes, and they embrace the habbot vision of creativity, colour and dedication to quality.

2012

CREATIVE STILL LIFE IMAGERY

We embark on our first still life campaign in collaboration with creative agency Ortolan, styled by Sonia Retsch and photographed by Scott Newett. This group of images sets the tone for many habbot campaigns to come.

THE ROYAL ARCADE MELBOURNE STORE

Two months later, habbot’s first Melbourne city store is ready to open in the historic Royal Arcade.

HIGH ST ARMADALE STORE

In September 2012, habbot opened its first permanent store in Melbourne’s High Street Armadale, ready for Spring Summer 2013. Mim Design is engaged to help bring a luxury aesthetic into a welcoming retail space.

2011

POP UP SHOPS

With the launch of a second season, Spring Summer 2011, habbot opens its first pop-up store in Melbourne’s old GPO Building. During this period we continue to test the retail waters with two more pop-up shops in Chapel St, South Yarra and Howey Place in Melbourne's CBD.

2010

MADE IN ITALY

Annie’s years living in London led to a love of European craftsmanship and inspired the decision that her Australian designed shoes should be made in Italy. For the first three seasons habbot shoes were handmade by a small factory in Naples.

Annie visits Italy up to four times a year for design inspiration, to source materials and to oversee manufacturing.

THE LAUNCH PARTY

THE HABBOT SNEAKER

habbot is launched with a party for friends and associates. Annie sells personal ‘wholesale’ pre-orders, enough to get habbot off the ground. The excitement around her brand vision convinces Annie that there is a market in Australia for a creative, independent new women's footwear brand.

THE FIRST SEASON SAMPLES ARRIVE

habbot’s first season sets the scene for the future – classic European styles, beautiful Italian leather and craftsmanship, and the habbot signature bold use of colour. Annie brings metallic gold, burgundy velvet and patent into the Australian winter, alongside classic fine black leather. The contrasting two tone oxfords showcase the classic lace-ups that the brand will be known for in all future collections.

THE LAUNCH PARTY

habbot is launched with a party to friends and associates. Annie sells personal 'wholesale' pre orders, enough to get habbot off the ground. The excitement around the brand vision convinces Annie that there is a marketplace in Australia for a new creative and independently designed, Italian made shoe brand.

MADE IN ITALY

Annie's years living in London led to a love of European crafsmanship and inspired the decision that her new Australian designed shoe brand should be made in Italy. For the first three seasons habbot shoes were made by a small factory in Naples. In 2013, habbot moved manufacturing to an all family run operation in Sant'Elpidio a Mare, in the Le Marche region of North Eastern Italy, a centre of tradition and excellence for Italian shoemaking. Annie continues to visit Italy up to four times a year, for design inspiration, sourcing new materials and components, and to oversee habbot's manufacturing.

2011

POP UP SHOPS

With the launch of habbot's second season, Spring Summer 2011, habbot opens its first pop up shop in Melbourne's old GPO building. We continued to test the retail waters with two more pop up shops in Chapel St, South Yarrra and Howey Place in Melbourne CBD.

2009

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The St Kilda back shed/creative studio. For two years this was the global headquarters of the habbot brand. Exciting ideas from humble beginnings.

A NURTURED IDEA

During an international career in the 2000s at Net a Porter, Sass & Bide and the Melbourne based Figgins group, designer Annie Abbott quietly planned to create a brand for women who love colour and unique design, based on classic European styling, and manufactured by top Italian craftspeople.