Friday, September 10, 2010

The Apprentice?

Some of you may know I work at Captains of Industry. We're a gentlemen's outfitter and we make (among other things) bespoke leather shoes. My boss James makes one pair a week and is teaching me. So, here's my first pair so far...


Plans and patternmaking...

A "fit shoe" is made to check size and pattern...

It is stretched over the last - a wooden foot to shape the leather...

The leather uppers and lining for the real deal...


The edges are thinned down to reduce bulk at the stitch lines...

The heels are sewn first and top edges folded down...

Lining is sewn in...

The buckles is sewn in place...


Topstitching done...

Ready for lasting (stretching over the last)...





Lsted up and ready to dye...


First coat...


Last coat...


Sealed with hi shine sealant.



And that's it so far...stay tuned!

7 comments:

  1. That's a really amazing skill to have! It's also really good that the knowledge is getting passed along - I worry that we'll lose the people who know how to create such beautiful things and be stuck in a world of factory made only *shudders*

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  2. Now you can add "cobbler" to your list of skills. They're gorgeous!

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  3. Wow, this is great!
    I have always wondered what goes into making shoes, and that looks like fun!

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  4. Oh, wow. Very nice. You should be proud!
    x

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  5. Lucky you!! You have a nice boss who wants to teach you amazing things...that's really not my case!;)

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  6. How wonderful that you are getting to learn this valuable craft!

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Thanks for your comments!