Does anyone have any experience making quality leather bespoke shoes? Are the skills in our style of leatherwork transferable to the shoe making world?
People can not live without a pair of shoes. As boho wedding shoes it is very important to choose a pair of shoes that are in conformity with the occasion and the size the feet.
@Dave Magic attended the Chicago School of Shoemaking weekend course. Made a bespoke pair of stitch down desert boots. Nuances in shoemaking make it hard to initially undertake taking a 1d form and making it into a 3d shoe.
After the course, felt more comfortable tracing the patterns to make a second pair at home. Turned out okay, but then I tried to improve on the patter and failed. Major issues for me were gluing and stitching. Have a little daughter, so can't use toxic glues in any way. Couple this with hand stitching, which takes a really long time, and making adjustments just wasn't worth it for me.
I bought Lasts (shoemaking forms) and rubber soles from Brooklyn Shoe Space, but couldn't self teach myself how to make patterns and tranfer them into shoes.
Macell Mrsan is the truth regarding shoemaking. He has videos online, and does in person courses. Purchased the pattern making DVD for $99 and really felt like I waisted my money. Quality just wasn't that good. That said...
Brookyln Shoe Supply offers in person courses. The course couple with reference DVD probably would have been enough for me to continue with making shoes.
There are certain tools you have to buy to get the shoes out of the last, to pattern the shoe bottom if making leather shoes and the list goes on. Early on, realized without access to a teacher for pattern making construction, it wouldn't be worth it to pursue tools/supplies.
Let me know if I may be of further assistance. Best.
@Dave Magic I know of a shoe maker in Singapore (joshualeongshoemaker). He studied bag making then switch to shoe making in Florence. I was asking him what’s the difference between leather accessories and shoe making. He shared that shoe making has a lot more steps in making a pair of shoe thaneather accessory. Longer time in production. More complicated than bag and accessory.
Well someone gifted me this book and I found it very interesting. I havent found many traditional leathercraft schools around me but there is a shoe making school near me in Brooklyn New York. So I was thinking to take a class and see what it's like to make a shoe from scratch. However, I was hoping that the skillset crossed over. I dont want to do too many things and miss my target of getting good at the things I'm working on now.
The main trades in this industry are leather goods (bags, wallets, belts etc), saddlery, shoe making, book binding, upholstery and clothing. There is always a crossover somewhere in each category, but many of the techniques and tools associated with shoe making are truly unique to that trade.
People can not live without a pair of shoes. As boho wedding shoes it is very important to choose a pair of shoes that are in conformity with the occasion and the size the feet.
@Dave Magic attended the Chicago School of Shoemaking weekend course. Made a bespoke pair of stitch down desert boots. Nuances in shoemaking make it hard to initially undertake taking a 1d form and making it into a 3d shoe.
After the course, felt more comfortable tracing the patterns to make a second pair at home. Turned out okay, but then I tried to improve on the patter and failed. Major issues for me were gluing and stitching. Have a little daughter, so can't use toxic glues in any way. Couple this with hand stitching, which takes a really long time, and making adjustments just wasn't worth it for me.
I bought Lasts (shoemaking forms) and rubber soles from Brooklyn Shoe Space, but couldn't self teach myself how to make patterns and tranfer them into shoes.
Macell Mrsan is the truth regarding shoemaking. He has videos online, and does in person courses. Purchased the pattern making DVD for $99 and really felt like I waisted my money. Quality just wasn't that good. That said...
Brookyln Shoe Supply offers in person courses. The course couple with reference DVD probably would have been enough for me to continue with making shoes.
There are certain tools you have to buy to get the shoes out of the last, to pattern the shoe bottom if making leather shoes and the list goes on. Early on, realized without access to a teacher for pattern making construction, it wouldn't be worth it to pursue tools/supplies.
Let me know if I may be of further assistance. Best.
Sources:
https://www.chicagoschoolofshoemaking.com
https://brooklynshoesupply.com
https://www.shoemakingcourse.com/about-marcell-mrsan/
https://vimeo.com/marcellmrsan (Video Previews)
@Dave Magic I know of a shoe maker in Singapore (joshualeongshoemaker). He studied bag making then switch to shoe making in Florence. I was asking him what’s the difference between leather accessories and shoe making. He shared that shoe making has a lot more steps in making a pair of shoe thaneather accessory. Longer time in production. More complicated than bag and accessory.
I know nothing about shoe making, but I am pretty sure you will enjoy this documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idVcVYbserM
Well someone gifted me this book and I found it very interesting. I havent found many traditional leathercraft schools around me but there is a shoe making school near me in Brooklyn New York. So I was thinking to take a class and see what it's like to make a shoe from scratch. However, I was hoping that the skillset crossed over. I dont want to do too many things and miss my target of getting good at the things I'm working on now.
The main trades in this industry are leather goods (bags, wallets, belts etc), saddlery, shoe making, book binding, upholstery and clothing. There is always a crossover somewhere in each category, but many of the techniques and tools associated with shoe making are truly unique to that trade.
Are you thinking of making the jump?
Phil