Espadrilles, alpargatas or espardenyes are normally casual, flat, but sometimes high-heeled shoes originated in the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of jute rope. The jute rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille; the uppers vary widely in style. In Quebec and Beirut, however, espadrille is the usual term for running shoes or sneakers.