Start With Your Feet
No pair of feet are the same. Even your left foot is different than your right. When shopping for shoes, you look for the perfect match of style, color and fit. Unfortunately, your feet must match what’s produced in the shoe factories. If your feet don’t match the production model, it can be difficult to find a shoe you want that fits.
Why not turn it around? Start with your feet. Once the fit is worked out, I can create a shoe in the color and style you want.
About the Materials
I purchase materials for liners and uppers from Italian tanners who produce some of the finest leather in the world. Because I’m concerned about my health and yours, I prefer to use vegetable tanned leather whenever possible. Exotic chrome tanned leathers are used by special request, only.
Shoe components are always vegetable tanned leather. For example, the insole, toe box, heel counters, liners and soles will always be made from vegetable tanned leather. The European Union has made a concerted effort to cut down the use of chrome in tanning leather. The German soling leather I use is from one of the cleanest tanneries in the world.
Most of the glues used for shoe repair and construction in the US were banned some time ago in the EU. I use water based glues where possible.
Wear and Life Span
A well fitted pair of shoes should not show any stress on the seams or stitching. Worn soles can be replaced and heels rebuilt or recapped. With proper care, your handmade shoes will easily last 10 to 20 years.