Design and Make Your Own Shoes!

Heelfan · 5th August 2003, 10:32

Guys and Gals! (and especially for those guys who can't find the right size and style for themselves) - I've found a pair of shoe-making companies that run 2-day courses in designing and making your own high-heeled shoes!

One Company is in the UK and the other is in the USA - they advertise jointly and both run in-house courses where your shoes are made in two days.

ALSO they run a full week's course in Spain, where you combine a week's holiday with (presumably) making your shoes with greater time. ( I remind myself that those Classic Pumps and Lovely Pumps in that superb soft thin leather are made in Spain!).

Presumably though I can't post their names & websites as that would be advertising(???). What great courses though, eh?

Cheerfully yours. Heelfan

Laurieheels · 5th August 2003, 13:36

If you benefit from telling us about these sites, then yes, but if you are doing this more for public awareness, and will not receive any money, then it is not advertising. Go ahead and submit a link. Provided the above is true.

See? Easy enough.

Heelfan · 5th August 2003, 14:36

Thank you Laurie for your 'Moderator's Clearance'!:

1. I assure you that I won't make a penny out of this. Far from it - I'll probably end up going on their courses and becoming happier but poorer!

2. How can you possibly doubt that it's true when the posting is from none other than your rock solid and trusty Heelfan, a veritable pillar of the global high heel community!

3. I put this on 'For the Gals' by mistake. Can you please move it to 'For Everybody' because all could be interested in the following information:

Here we go! The Website for these shoe-making courses is:

http://www.tradepartnersuk-usa.com/p...oductsshow.htm

You never know, maybe we'll all find ourselves meeting each other on the courses - maybe we'll arrange a prize for the sexiest shoes created by one of us! Anyway have fun, make some fantastic stunners and don't forget to post a pic of your materpieces afterwards!

Cheerfully yours, Heelsfan

Firefox · 5th August 2003, 18:38

I moved it for you.

Mentioning various companies is fine so long as it is of general interest, especially where you don't stand to gain. Specifically banned is spamming of porn sites, sexual services etc.

Heelfan · 6th August 2003, 07:32

Morning Firefox! Thank you for kindly 'moving' this thread to "For Everybody", but I'm afraid it's still here on "For The Gals" (on my screen at least).

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan

mk4625 · 6th August 2003, 08:47

My cousin Christine is a clothing designer and she might be attending this class. She goes to several per year. I don't think my aunt has told her about my odd habit.

Dr. Shoe · 11th August 2003, 20:50

Nice idea!

BUT.

It actually takes months to learn to make shoes properly because there are so many different types of construction and you will make many mistakes whilst learning. If you go on one of these courses, don't expect to come away with more than one pair of shoes and a "beginner's" pair at that- you probably won't be able to make the pair of your choice as it would be impossible to teach a class of students all making their own designs.

A cheaper and better alternative (for those living within reach of London) would be to enrol on a [once a week] Beginners' Shoe Making evening course at Cordwainers College (now part of the London School of Fashion) then graduate to the Advanced Course where you'd have more choice of what you make.

Even then you wouldn't be able to make your own designs unless you have learned to make patterns.

Heelfan · 12th August 2003, 01:16

Thanks Dr. Shoe for the advice. Although a relative newcomer to these forums, at the Oxford meet I was told by Firefox and Xaphod that you are pretty expert where shoe construction is concerned.

Mind you, the week-long Spanish course sounds pretty appealing, even if the shoes don't turn out very well!

I'll bear in mind your suggestion about Cordwainer's College! I think 'Cordwainers' are shoe-makers aren't they?

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan.

Dr. Shoe · 20th August 2003, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heelfan

Thanks Dr. Shoe for the advice. Although a relative newcomer to these forums, at the Oxford meet I was told by Firefox and Xaphod that you are pretty expert where shoe construction is concerned.

Mind you, the week-long Spanish course sounds pretty appealing, even if the shoes don't turn out very well!

I'll bear in mind your suggestion about Cordwainer's College! I think 'Cordwainers' are shoe-makers aren't they?

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan.

You are quite correct. During the Medieval period, all the fine shoe making leather came from Cordoba in Spain. This is why people who make shoes from new materials are called Cordwainers and people who "cobble" together shoes from parts of old shoes are cobblers.

Heelfan · 22nd August 2003, 23:16

Thank you Dr. Shoe! I've just learned something further from you that is most interesting. Look forward to seeing you at at least one of the three forthcoming Heel-Meets!

Cheerfully yours, Heelfan