BESPOKE SHOEMAKING

The savoir-faire of bespoke shoemaking is endangered. There are fewer independant craftsmen: around 30 high qualified professionals are still working in France today. Related to fashion, and haute-couture, this know-how is a demanding job. It requires a high master of the hand movement and a strong knowledge of the material.

The know-how of bespoke shoemaking

In the 4th millennium BC, the very first shoe was created in Armenia. It was just a piece of stitched leather recovering the front part of the foot as a loafer. Since the creation of the first shoe, shoes have evolved alongside clothing history.

The bespoke shoemaker creates entirely by hand. He meticulously applies all steps of realisation  like the cutting or the stitching. His work starts with an imprint of the foot sculpted on wood. Then, he manipulates leather pieces by punching, gluing, reveting, stapling and finally polishing.

Philippe Atienza is an independent bootmaker who makes all his creations in his workshop. He puts his expertise at the service of individuals, designers and creators wishing to develop new shapes and new models that combine tradition and contemporaneity. Among the apprentices Philippe Atienza has trained in his workshop we can name .. 

Claire Daubé is a made-to-measure boot and shoemaker, specialising in making the upper – the part of the shoe that covers the foot. Her work is crucial because it directly influences the shoe’s aesthetics, comfort, and durability. She excels in two complementary aspects: patternmaking and sewing.