How my shoes are made
This one is for sharing the unique traditional shoe making process with you. We are all used to seeing products in their final shape, as a finished item.
My making process is very special and close to my heart. A design only goes online after a long process of development, involving several highly talented and professional craftsmen.
 

 
A design is born
My design process starts with an idea. My inspiration is the city I live in, architecture, interesting people, graffiti and street art.
I start with a two dimensional drawing that is based on one of my existing shoe lasts (the molds on which the shoes are assembled).

Some ideas I have, like my strapped ballerina shoes require making a new last, It's a long process for another post, here is how it looks:

 

Next, I draw the design on a 3D last, and make required adjustments.
Unlike sculptures, shoes are designed for use, and therefore, there are many restrictions that often change the original plan.
Now comes another 2D stage.
The wrapping of the last is being removed and shaped to a flat pattern.
This is done by my super talented pattern maker David, who has been making shoe patterns for 40 years now. He fixes my mistakes and helps prevent future problems, and saves a lot of time and money by shortening the development process.
My patterns are fixed, cut and shaped in the workshop.

Turning from 2D to 3D 
The most exciting stage of my work is seeing the finished design for the first time, turning from a drawing to a product. It always looks so different and I am constantly surprised. I can open the box and feel the excitement of seeing my idea turning into a beautiful pair of shoes, and on the other hand, I often hate the result (yes it can come out really ugly).
The first model usually requires several trials to fix errors and proportions, then, when the design and fit are satisfying, it is made in several sizes, to check if it “translates” well to more than just one size.



Choosing the right material
One of my favorite, and most difficult decisions are color, pattern, and sole picking. There are many options, and I always have to guess which ones would look best, which would be practical, and which ones would be desired by my customers.
I spend a lot of time picking, combining, changing my mind, choosing new ones, changing them again and again, before I bring the selected ones to the workshop, where they are cut and shaped.
Sometimes I feel like making special designs, limited editions, hand drawn or dyed:

Production. The art of hand crafted shoes.
My shoes are made the old fashion way.
Seven different craftsmen take part in the 48 hours process.
The workshop in which my shoes are made in is owned by a father and his son, 3rd generation of shoe pattern makers and cobblers.
Production is made by hand with use of light machinery only. No mass production, no waste, no under aged or under payed workers, no pollution.
The people who create my shoes are like family to me. We meet for a toast in the holidays, my kids love visiting… They make my ideas and dreams come to life.
Here is what they do so well:

Cutting patterns:

Sewing:

Shaping upper parts on lasts:

Attaching soles:

Finishing touches:

Saying good bye:
Loving them all the way, and I could not be doing it without you, my shoe loving customers. Each order gets it`s personal treatment, focusing on the special lady who chose this pair. Shoes won`t save lives, but they can definitely make the difference between a bad day and a very happy one.

If you are not yet a member of my shoe loving community, you are welcome to join us here. 

Thank you for reading this,

♥ Tamar.