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MAKE YOUR OWN FOOTWEAR

Feeling crafty? Or perhaps fed up with too few footwear options for healthy feet? Curious about making or sourcing footwear closer to home, handcrafted and perhaps customized? Here we offer recommended links and resources for both DIYing and connecting to others who would love to make you happy, healthier footwear your feet will love.

"I love the work I have chosen to do…  It is a pleasure for me to work with beautiful, soft leather, and to feel a good tool in my hands as I connect with an ancient tradition of sandal, boot, and moccasin making.  I love old, quality tools, and handmade tools and knives the most, as they ring with quality and carry the energy of the maker."

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Nathan deBridge Bowes
Artisan Shoemaker, Designer and Founder of Soul Path Shoes

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MAKE YOUR OWN FOOTWEAR

Feeling crafty? Choose your own adventure below:

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HANDS ON WORKSHOPS

There are numerous people and places that offer shoemaking workshops around the world. We recommend doing a search for those that might be nearby. Please note however that although their shoemaking skills may be top notch, most schools and workshops utilize standard shoe lasts which are not, to date, shaped like a human foot.

 

Included in this list are those that offer non-lasted shoemaking in which students have the opportunity to make non-lasted footwear and/or cast one's own foot, utilizing the natural shape of the foot when patterning footwear.

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Please connect with them directly for current and/or custom offerings.

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HOW-TO

Here are a few resources we have found to get you inspired and ready to start making your own footwear.

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I.   Laughing Crow Shoemaking Videos and Tool Kit

 

II.  Simple Shoemaking

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  • How-to kits, instructions and soling materials available in their store HERE!

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VIDEOS

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  • and more!

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III. Living DIY Style!

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IV. Other DIY Helpful Resources: There is a wide range - See what inspires you!

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  • Barefoot Sandals

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- DIY Barefoot Sandals [VIDEO]

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- DIY: How To Make Barefoot Sandals [VIDEO]


- How To Crochet Bohemian Barefoot Sandals [VIDEO]

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FIND A PATTERN

Where to purchase footwear patterns:

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  • Pintrest - Search Shoe and Sandal Patterns

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FIND SUPPLIES

Where to buy shoemaking supplies.

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- Where to purchase shoemaking tools and materials

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- Kits with materials included

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- Shoe Sole Sheets

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COMMUNITY SPACES

Shoemaking community spaces, offering access to workspace, tools, materials, classes and footwear consulting.

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MEET A MAKER

There are plenty of shoemakers in the world however those that still focus on either non-lasted shoemaking or making custom lasts and working with the shape of the natural foot are farther and fewer between. That said, we suggest you first do a local search to see if there is someone that suits your style and needs locally.

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Included in this list are those we have found that understand or work with a more natural shape of the foot, allow for adequate customizeability or use a custom mold from your foot.

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