Make your own shoes with I CAN make shoes

If you love shoes, this news will make you jump for joy: it’s not that hard to make your own. I CAN make shoes will teach you how and share their methods that you can repeat at home – no heavy machinery needed. You might need to start making space for your new shoerobe now.

Footwear designer Amanda Luisa and shoemaker Elizabeth Dunn run a variety of workshops for complete beginners from their studio in East London. Courses on offer include “Ballet pumps for beginners”, “Become a shoe design icon” and “Summer sandal making”. These are single day workshops, which take you through the basic elements of design, from choosing from a range of patterns to final make-up and decoration. 

For the more adventurous shoe-lover, the three-day intensive workshop will teach you how to make a pair of heels from start to finish, and all in the comfort of your own home. For less than the price of a pair of Louboutins, you can learn how to make your very own couture footwear. The short intensive course includes notes, tuition and all the materials needed to make your shoes.

Do you hang on to shoes when they’re past their best? Or splurge on vintage pairs then keep them tucked away in your wardrobe? Well these days may be over with I CAN make shoes’ up-cycling workshop. Give an old pair a new lease of life as you learn to re-cover, re-sole, re-decorate and re-wear!

Fashion enthusiast and shoe fanatic Amanda Luisa came up with her own method of making shoes after studying footwear in Australia. Like many students, Amanda became frustrated that she couldn’t make her own shoes without the machinery that she’d been taught on. Amanda told The Upcoming, “I began experimenting with different methods and techniques until I was able to make a really high quality shoe without any of the machines. Finally, I came up with the I CAN make shoes method, which we have been teaching for almost three years now!”

Workshops run every weekend, but hurry if you want to join in, as they fill up fast. Sign up for a course today at I CAN make shoes.

Hollie Bracciale