Footwear Summer School

Course details

This in-depth shoe making course offers you a unique opportunity to learn and develop all aspects of footwear pattern cutting and making under the guidance of specialist footwear tutor Nafi ;


Based at our Golden Lane site, you'll have access to the full range of industrial machines used in the making process such as the skiving machine as well as the different types of sewing machines used for stitching leather. You'll learn how to click (cut your leather by hand) and how to prepare and fit the many components involved such as the linings, insoles, stiffeners and heel ; 

You'll start the course with an introduction to footwear pattern cutting, including foot anatomy, size fitting systems and last measurements using a range of contemporary lasts, before moving on to making your first shoe.

The court shoe:
Your first making project will be a pair of ladies court shoes, which offers the best introduction to footwear pattern cutting, closing and shoe making. The styles you will investigate will include the 'Mary Jane' and' T-bar' before you move on to sketching your court shoe design onto the last and making your ;

You will be guided through the different types of leather suitable for your design before moving onto the making process. The tutor will demonstrate the skills needed to identify the different upper materials and hand cutting techniques involved in cutting. You will also be shown different types of edge ; 

Flat sandal/high heel: 
For your second project you will have the choice to make a flat sandal (male/female) or a high heel. You will design and cut your own patterns and investigate different styles including, slotted, skeleton and thong (sandals). You will move onto constructing the shoe, stitching the components together and attaching your sole and heels.

Loafer, court shoe or sandal:
Once confident with your new understanding of the making process you'll start your third project designing and developing your own style of loafer (male/female), court shoe (female) or sandal (male/female), using the lasts and existing components you have been ;

The course will be taught through a series of practical demonstrations and hands-on workshops and cover information on suppliers and tools as well as how to create and complete a sample specification ticket used in the industry. At the end of the course you'll leave with three pairs of shoes and a comprehensive set of reference notes and supporting patterns for all your shoes.

The course will include:

• Materials & leathers and appropriateness of selection
• Explanation of specialist equipment and machinery and treatments which may be achieved
• Basic understanding of terminology and foot anatomy
• Drawing onto the last
• Last taping
• Making an inside and outside/ mean form and design standard
• Closing (stitching the upper)
• Preparing the insole
• Lasting (shaping the leather)
• Attaching the sole and the heel

Updated on 13 December, 2018