The Making of a Bespoke Shoe
At this stage, the uppers and the inner sole are fitted to the last and stitched together by a skilled shoemaker using flaxen thread that he makes himself. The maker interprets the design effect that the last maker and pattern cutter intend in his own way so that the resulting shoe is a unique combination of craft and design inputs.
If this is a first shoe for a new customer, we stop the making before the outer sole is stitched onto the welt, and ask the customer to try on the shoe to ensure that the last and making are correct. At this stage we are still able to make adjustments to the shoe (and of course the last). Once we are satisfied that the fit is correct we proceed to the final stage of making, attaching the sole and heel and then finishing the shoe with meticulous care.
