How We Make Our Shoes
1. Creating the Last
Every pair begins with a carefully shaped last — the wooden mold that defines the shoe’s silhouette, fit, and posture. We work with a range of lasts refined over years to achieve both comfort and balance — the foundation of every design.
2. Creating and Tracing the Pattern
Once the last is perfected, our artisans use it to develop the pattern. They wrap the last, trace the design directly onto it, and then carefully transfer those markings into precise templates. These serve as blueprints that guide how each leather piece is cut and assembled — ensuring the shoe retains its form and proportions across every size and style.
3. Selecting the Leather
We hand-select from hundreds of full-grain hides sourced from some of the world’s best tanneries. Each hide is chosen for its unique grain, depth, and tone — qualities that can only come from nature.
Our leathers are dyed using natural vegetable tannins and rich aniline finishes, creating color variations and subtle marks that prove authenticity — not flaws, but evidence of real craftsmanship and natural beauty.
4. Cutting the Leather (Clicking)
Every leather piece is hand-cut using the pattern templates. Our artisans position each cut with intention, avoiding imperfections and ensuring the best part of the hide is used for visible sections like the vamp and toe. This manual process minimizes waste and keeps every pair unique.
5. Stitching and Closing
The cut leather pieces are skillfully stitched together to form the upper. This stage demands precision and experience — aligning seams, reinforcing stress points, and ensuring the shoe’s final shape is both elegant and durable.
6. Lasting and Assembly
The stitched upper is then pulled and shaped over the last. It’s secured to the insole, and the construction begins — whether by Goodyear welt, Blake stitch, or hand-welted methods. Each technique ensures long-term structure, comfort, and the ability to be resoled for decades of wear.
7. Welting and Sole Stitching
A leather welt is stitched to the upper and insole, then the sole is attached and sewn through the welt. This stage is what gives our shoes their strength, durability, and graceful aging over time.
8. Edge Trimming and Finishing
The soles are trimmed and smoothed, then hand-dyed and burnished with layers of natural wax and pigment. The result: a deep, rich edge tone that develops a beautiful patina with use — a hallmark of true craftsmanship.
9. Polishing and Shine
Each pair is finished with natural creams and polishes — often applied by hand using soft brushes and cloth. The process enhances the depth of color, nourishes the leather, and brings out a soft, natural luster.
10. Final Inspection and Packaging
Before leaving the workshop, every pair is inspected, conditioned, and gently buffed. Each shoe carries subtle traces of handwork — the brush marks, the small tonal variations — tangible proof that it was made by skilled hands, not machines.