Pegged Fiddlewaist Boots

Currently, we have developed and new construction technique that we like to call pegged fiddlewaist.  Its taken us a bit of time to perfect it, I hope to have it improved further still as we work through this 

 We have learned a  technique that we call pegged fiddlewaist. We have made a few more beuties since, ill have to get the images on the website pronto, 

Tough Times

I just want to make a quick blog post to wish everyone well in Pandemic, soon we will all know someone that has personally suffered. It's April the 21st now but it still feels like in the beginning.
I will still endeavour to make shoes and boots, I guess that I am lucky as the factory is also still my own and we are a small team are allowed to continue making our shoes. Things have been streamlined, and so like many other small businesses we have learned a few lessons and I have tightened the ship and also improved our quality.

                                                                      Monkey Boots

                                                                     Double Don Welting

          Leather Swatches (Zonta)

                                                             Debry

                                                                          Midsole

Hallux Valgus Bespoke Chukka

Well, I had an order from a new client that had issues with his feet at the ball joint. The medical term is Hallux Valgus, Also know bunions. The client was after a Bespoke Chukka boot in a cheery red. This is the final result.

                                                       Valgus Bespoke Chukka

                                  I made 2 pair, the first is more of a deeper maroon colour. The 2nd is the more expensive looking of the 2. The leather was tanned in Northhampton England.

Our French Flag Shoes

We are participating in a French fair on Dec 12-15th 2019 and so to show off our skills we have made a French flag wholecut pair of shoes.

I showed them to the French Ambassador and suggested to wear them with a match flench flag suit. He was not impressed with the comment and walked on... oh well!

                                           Sometimes you just need to make something for fun

                                                       I am very happy with the out come.

                                                                         Wee Wee

                                           My Favourite French man has to be Jean-Pierre Papin

Thank you for viewing our shoes. Please have a look at the rest of our shoemaking skills here 

https://donsfootwear.com/en/bespoke

A Spotlight on Don's Footwear Bespoke Department.

         

 We have moved to a new factory, It's quite a unique space, So we create a video to give a quick tour around. Here you can see my wife Bee for the first time. 

World Championship in Shoemaking 2019

I regretted not creating an entry for the shoemaking championships last year. I managed to read up about the competition in plenty of time but decided not to proceed, I then went through the feeling of disappointment of missing out. In 2018 there were 45 shoemakers that registered for the competition and 30 black oxfords entrants arrived with 5 more being late. During the event, the top 10 shoes were announced and the top three received a cash prize and then toured the world of high-end shoe shops and tailoring stores.

Our Competitor

So, This year the call was to make a brown wingtip oxford with a full leather sole. We started in January by creating a new last for the event then in Febuary we started the actual shoemaking by used Barker'srs outsole and creating a heel block and welt from barkers leathers. For the upper we used a semi-aniline leather from AACRACKIN from England and we then source our own British racing green linings locally. We made our own Shoe last and Shoe tree in-house, when the shoe was completed we asked Vulture shoeshine to give the toecap and sides a military grade polish.

The event was held on the 22nd of March, The judging was completed the day before by a jury of 10 All respected professionals in the Shoe industry. Bloggers, shoemakers, writers and business owners and last years winner

This year the Winning shoe was a concept shoe from Danel Wegan, Danel came in 2ndplacee last year so he has achieved his dream. As for us.. Well,l we came in 34th position. Our target was to be in the top 20. Hopefully, we will achieve that next time around.

Our Store is moving Location

Due to new Landlords at our building having there own ideas of what to do with their own space we have had to move out. We decided to leave 2 months early to give us time to focus on what to do next. For the time being we were going to just take on bespoke order from our factory. The fact is it's only myself working on the wooden shoe lasts and being the owner I also have many other tasks to take on. I have now realized that I can only make 2 per week.

This is the location for our factory. We have been here for many years however it looks like we will be on the move again soon

https://www.google.com/maps/@13.6886322,100.6703436,15z

Cheers

Don