ExIT Shoes

I make shoes in many styles. Here are examples of formal, casual and hybrid styles.

Formal Green custom shoes with pants.

Casual Blue custom shoes in the garden

Hybrid Black custom shoes on the bike

Details on the shoes and larger photos are available below.

When I first saw this piece of leather at the shop in the Netherlands, I was with one of my new shoemaker friends. Much as I liked it, I put it back because I thought it was too expensive. He really gave me a hard time about it and made me buy it. At the time, I still didn’t realize how hard it was to find leather that was interesting, attractive and also of the highest quality. So here it is, as a one piece oxford.

This is the first prototype of a high top version of the ExIT Cycle™ shoe. It’s a half step from shoe to boot, and from fashion to traditional. I’m sorting out the shape and fit, then planning to refine the style into a classic men’s boot.

Ankle boots can be made on the same lasts as low shoe lasts, but there are some tricky dynamics as the upper extends beyond the top of the last. I’m continuing to avoid eyelets as the leather upper is more than up to the task of holding the laces. Also, for custom shoes, those eyelets don’t see as much stress.

The veg tan cow upper is also fully lined with veg tan cow. They are build using a welted construction and stitched to a mid-sole using braided stitching. A Vibram Gumlite unit sole is glued on over the mid-sole.

I wanted to make these for Momentum’s Magazine’s Bike fashion show as part of Fashion Week here in Portland, but there were no models available in the size I was planning to make. Other than the perforation pattern, which was common on classic bicycle touring shoes, there’s nothing really “bike” about them – no special equipment required! You just get on your bike and ride.

Anyone who’s been around me or my shop over the last several months knows these have been on my mind. Finally today they are finished. These shoes have the same general styling colors as the ExIT Cycle™ shoes, but done in a 2″ heel.

Making high heel shoes is especially challenging for the small shoemaker because it requires a lot of specialized material, or a lot of engineering on the shoemaker’s part. While these were no  picnic to produce, I’ve gotten positive feedback from all the testers who took tried them out. Many wished it was currently picnic weather so they could wear them some more.

These shoes are unlined and feature the same Italian vegetable tanned upper  as the ExIT Cycle™ shoes, but with a killer firefighter Vibram sole . When you’re burning some rubber on your bike, or stamping out your camp fire, you’ll need these soles to protect you. (Hello firefighters…) Note the 100X on the heel. That’s because they are 100X cooler than any other ladies bike-styled shoes!