the bottom of the shoe); the
insole (the internal part of the
shoe that sits directly under the
foot); the outsole (the outer
layer that directly touches the
ground) and the heel.
Step 1: Cutting the pattern
Almost every pair of shoes we
make at Shoes of Prey is
unique and so requires a unique
pattern to be cut. Pattern
cutting involves creating the
shape of each component of the
shoe. With all our possible
shoe combinations and each
shoe size requiring a new
pattern, we have a lot of
patterns in our studio! In the
video above you can see an
upper pattern being created. An
upper is the part of the shoe
that sits on top of the foot. The
other parts of the shoe that
need to have patterns made
include; the sole (the core of
Step 2: Tools of the trade
One of the most important
tools for making a shoe is the
last, something which
customers never normally get
to see! The last is a foot shaped
piece of material over which
the shoes are molded. A
different last is used for each
shoe size and style. For
example, a shoe with a pointy
toe will be molded using a last
with a pointy toe. The last is so
important because it
determines the fit and feel of
the shoes.
Step 3: Edging
Edging is the process of
flattening the edge of the
pieces of leather that have been
cut to the pattern so it is thinner
than the rest of the leather
piece. This makes for crisp,
neat joins between pieces of
leather giving you a much
JOY FEELINGS | DECEMBER ISSUE
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