Over six full days you design and make your own pair of boots, sneakers, flats, heels or sandals, from pattern-making to soling. Taught by Keiko Hirosue-Korolev, it is open to everyone from first-timers to experienced shoemakers, and the class is tailored to your skill level and project.
A 6-day intensive workshop making shoes, boots, or sneakers, stilettos, you name it! a design of your own!
Make Your Dream Shoes: Boots, Sneakers, Stilettos—You Name It!
Duration: 6 full days (option to condense into 4 long days, or 5 days, or split into half-day/evening sessions. Please DM us)
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM or 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM with 1 hour lunch break
Format: Private sessions or group class (2+ students required for group)
Skill Level: Open to all—from first-timers to experienced shoemakers
We have updated the course to 6 days to accommodate last modification and midtown shopping mornings.
Course Overview
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and construct a custom pair of cemented-construction shoes—your choice of style: boots, sneakers, flats, heels, or sandals. The class is tailored to your skill level and project idea. You’ll learn everything from pattern-making to lasting and soling. Students may use in-house lasts or request custom lasts in advance (additional fee applies).
Schedule at a Glance
Day 1: Design & Pattern-Making
- Introduction to lasts: styles, shapes, and sizing
- Measuring your feet and selecting an appropriate last
- Sketching your design directly onto the last
- Creating pattern templates from tape and transferring to paper
- Pattern refinement for uppers and linings
Day 2: Finishing patterns, Cutting & Sewing Prep
- Finalizing pattern pieces
- Cutting upper and lining leathers
- Introduction to Skiver Machine and Skive materials where needed
- Introduction to the high-post sewing machine
- Begin stitching upper and lining components
Day 3: Complete Uppers
- Start and Continue stitching
- Assembling upper to lining
- Prepping completed uppers for lasting
Day 4: Start Lasting
- Prepping insole boards
- Premolding heel counters
- Cementing lining and uppers to the last
- Adding structural components: toe puff
- Drying and setting time between steps
Day 5: Finish lasting, Discuss Soling & Finishing
- Fill in the gap with cork
- Flatten bottom
- Prep heels
- Options: pre-made soles, stacked leather heels and leather outsole combo, lug soles, cats paw, leather covered heels. Learn about the different constructions
Day 6: Soling & Finishing
- Finishing details: trimming, inking, buffing
- Introduction to Foil Stamping: Customize your sockliner, and insert sockliner with foam
- Final runway and photos
- Optional: Material shopping trips available. Students are responsible for any external purchases. Let us know in advance to send you a shop list.
Customizations & Options
- Custom Lasts: If you have a specific toe shape or heel height in mind, we can help you order custom lasts in advance. Extra fees apply.
- Shoe Reconstruction: Want to take apart and rebuild a pair? Contact us ahead of time to plan the approach.
- Flexible Scheduling: Private or weeknight options available. DM us to arrange.
- Group Classes: Check our calendar or plan a new one with 30+ days’ notice. 2-person minimum.
Important Notes
You may alter the toe shape of a last (add material), but may not shave it down unless you purchase the last.
Bring reference images if you have a vision in mind.
This is a full-time hands-on course. Comfortable shoes and snacks encouraged!
