My handmade shoe - yep, I made a shoe!
When I was at footwear college in 2004 one of the projects we were given was to design a shoe for Clarks. The brief was to design a child's shoe which utilises a child friendlier closure than laces (for example). So I went off and designed this (rather colourful) girl's shoe which has a tie and toggle closure. In the end, Clarks liked it, but they said my design wasn't commercial enough...ah well commercial, sch-mmercial!
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All leather upper and hand stitched toe. Learning how to make shoes gave me lots of transferable skills for bag making and design (which happens to be a whole lot easier!) And shoe making is brilliant fun.
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To find out more about the footwear course that I took (and it's famous shoe designer alumni) and to see pics of MUCH prettier shoes being handmade hop over to my other blog.
Great shoe - shame they never made it.
Posted by: Lindsay | March 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Excellent shoe - I rather like it myself. I hate doing up laces because I'm so lazy so all my shoes have zips or velcro, unless they're heels of course.
Do you ever fancy making a shoe for yourself? you know, in all that spare time you have....
Posted by: Jo | March 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM
That is very cool that you know how to make shoes. I really like your design!
Posted by: Beth | March 12, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Great shoes - I could see my girls in those!
Posted by: Kate | March 12, 2008 at 01:01 PM
I so would have bought that shoe!! I love the ingenious closure and bright blocky colors!
There you go, swooning me with your talents again!
Posted by: LisaAlso | March 12, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Aahh that is sooo cute! :D I'd wear them anytime! (And would probably fit those child sizes too. :P My feet are small. =[ )
I think the closure is super creative. :) Also love the colours~~
Posted by: Aneesah | March 12, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Aahh that is sooo cute! :D I'd wear them anytime! (And would probably fit those child sizes too. :P My feet are small. =[ )
I think the closure is super creative. :) Also love the colours~~
Posted by: Aneesah | March 12, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Gorgeous shoe! I wish my feet were tinier, I'd definitely buy this one!
Posted by: stacysews | March 12, 2008 at 01:23 PM
You are a woman of many talents! Love that there's such a place as Footwear College and that you went there!
I used to sell shoes and this could have sold like hotcakes in our upscale boutique.
Posted by: Robyn | March 12, 2008 at 01:48 PM
That is wonderful! I've been wanting to learn how to make shoes for the longest time. Is this something you've kept working on since then?
Posted by: Meghan | March 12, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I would go buy those shoes tomorrow!!! They are great.
Posted by: Lyndsey-Jane | March 12, 2008 at 04:43 PM
I see the problem Lisa - it's more Campers than Clarks! You really are full of the most amazing surprises.
Posted by: Ali | March 12, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Those are so cute! I would totally by them for my daughter.
Posted by: Lilia | March 12, 2008 at 05:51 PM
I'd wear those shoes...they're awesome!
Posted by: Kristine | March 12, 2008 at 06:04 PM
What fabulous shoes.
I have always bought Clarks for my girl (or Start rite) but find more and more now that they are all patent leather or with heels and at 10 my daughter still charges about the playground getting muddy and we have a hard time finding practical and funky shoes. She would love these.
They should have taken you on Lisa.
Posted by: Barbara | March 12, 2008 at 06:18 PM
I would completely buy that shoe - it's so cute. And I love that there's a footwear college!
Posted by: Nicola Pedley | March 12, 2008 at 11:53 PM
I love that shoe! I'd wear it for sure! I agree with Ali though, it's probably more Campers than Clarks, and well.... Campers are my favourite shoes!
Posted by: Melaniem | March 13, 2008 at 12:12 AM
OMG! i love that shoe! I would have bought it for my daughter, and one for me if they came in my size! i can not believe they did not pick it up. they are crazy!
Posted by: katie | March 13, 2008 at 01:15 AM
oh SNAP!
My Blog shoes a pair I made late last year. I made the blue leather "cons" with red trim last time I went to my shoe course. I so totally enjoy tooling about with machines and glue and knives and leather and STUFF. This weekend's shoe project is felty slippers for my grrl - I felt a thrifted jumper up, design and handsew the slippers from the feltyness. Snug and warm! And shoey!
Posted by: Jen M | March 13, 2008 at 07:31 AM
oh my,
i found the link to this from craft boom
clarks have rocks in their heads.
this is really something. omg. amazing!
Posted by: art4friends | March 13, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Very cute! I'd wear these, they're fun.
Posted by: Claire | March 13, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Cutest shoes ever - Wich Clarks could do them in adult sizes...
Akhila
Posted by: Akhila | March 13, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Those are beautiful shoes!
Posted by: Cherry | March 13, 2008 at 08:20 PM
You're so damn clever girl!
Posted by: Jacqueline | March 14, 2008 at 05:23 AM
This shoe looks like it would do well in Europe. The style of shoe in Europe is different than the styles we are drawn to here in the US.
Posted by: Kimberly C. | March 14, 2008 at 03:27 PM