Though mules have a history originating in Ancient Rome, they only became popular in sixteenth-century Europe. There, mules were bedroom slippers or boudoir shoes worn by both men and women. Slowly, the fashion spread to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, India, and the Far East, with comfortable and luxurious malleus and thicker-than-normal soles worn to match dressing gowns. Only when Comtesse d’Olonne, the risqué society beauty, wore red mules to church in 1694 beneath her richly embellished skirt did the mules first come out in the open.

Despite that, mules continued to be indoor slippers until the beginning of the 1800s, when they almost went out of style. By the 1850s, heeled mules were less frequent for men. Then again, in the 1860s, they rose in popularity with prostitutes wearing mules in brothels. Their on-and-off popularity continued until the end of the 1990s when designers began to design the mule. In 2017, Elle Magazine finally gave this shoe its due, calling the mules the Shoe of 2017. This journey through time and changing trends highlights the history of mules and their evolving role in fashion.

To make a mule takes anywhere from four to six hours. While the process needs expert handcrafting, nowadays workers are using modern machines mostly for stitching the mules. The first step is designing the mules.

The design includes determining various aspects such as the shape, size, colour, material and embellishments. It is followed by stamping, sewing, assembling and finishing. Once the final pair of quality mules is ready, it is packaged and shipped for end-users.

The mule is a shoe that moved out of the boudoir and onto the high street. Typically made from cow, buffalo, or goat hide with uppers made from fur, silk, wool, cotton, velvets, and brocade, they are now made from a variety of materials like leather, faux leather, suede, velvet, canvas, rubber, and PVC. 

In the 8th century, they were commonly worn by men and women. Then, between the 16th and 18th centuries, the mules became popular in Europe. French aristocracy and English nobility wore mules with high heels and luxurious fabrics to represent casual luxury. 

Later, with colonisation and the Industrial Revolution, as more fashionable shoes became available, mules fell out of favour. Only in the 1920s and 30s did they resurface with actresses, making them popular through cinema. Since then, they have evolved with various heel heights and styles. 

Today, they range from flat and casual styles to high-heeled formal wear ready for every occasion. In 1956, Beth Levine, America’s First Lady of Shoe Design, created the Springolator, which used an elastic insole strip to keep the footwear securely in place. Finally, by the start of the new millennium, many celebrities and models were seen wearing different versions of mules from the streets to the fashion ramps. This journey through time showcases the mule shoes origin and their rise to fashion prominence.