Petasil
São João da Madeira · Portugal
A family-run Portuguese brand from São João da Madeira, the heart of Portugal’s shoe industry.
The facts
- Founded
- 1988, São João da Madeira
- Ownership
- Family-run, fourth generation
- Width fittings
- Up to five: D, E, F, G, H
- Sizes
- EU 24–45
- School range
- Leather upper, leather lining
- From
- Portugal’s shoe capital
The brand
Petasil was founded in April 1988 in São João da Madeira by three families — Pereira, Tavares and Silva — whose names make up the brand. It is still family-owned, now with a fourth generation involved since 2021, and still based in the town at the Oliva Creative Factory.
São João da Madeira is the smallest municipality in Portugal at 7.94 km², and it holds both of the country’s national footwear institutions: the technology centre, CTCP, and the training centre, CFPIC. A statue of a seated shoemaker, the Monumento ao Sapateiro, stands in the town.
What sets Petasil apart on the shelf is width. Most children’s shoes come in one. Petasil grades up to five — D, E, F, G and H — across EU 24 to 45, with leather uppers and leather linings on the school range.
Photo: Monumento ao Sapateiro, São João da Madeira — Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0
How this brand sizes
True to size in length. The decision is width.
F is the standard fitting. Go to D or E for a slim foot, G or H for a broad one. Most styles exist in F only, so a wide foot narrows the choice considerably.
- Petasil is documented as suiting narrower feet and narrow ankles.
- Five widths on BEA. Four on DONNA, EMMA and POSE. Three on BONNIE, BLANCHE, TANYA and GISELE.
- Width letters are graded by the brand, not derived from length. Measure the widest part of the foot, not only the toe.
Coming soon
Petasil is arriving at SchoolSteps shortly. Get in touch and we will tell you the day it lands.