Crafted Comfort

To me, design is about the simplicity and quality of a product. A very talented Graphic Designer once told me that minimal is best, and I agree Dad, you're spot on.

It's in the Detail

They can be stylish, casual, or even both. 

Ankle boots are one of my favourite styles to design and make. I made this pair for my sister Lara, who is a creative and stylish little pocket rocket. This lead me in the direction of designing a pair of simple yet classic boots, that have a hint of something different - something that makes you look twice.

Less is More

When I meet people, I always look at their shoes - I believe it says a lot about someone, and not only their taste in footwear!

This is the first pair of men's shoes that I have made, so I wanted to design a pair that I find most attractive on a man - simple yet classic. I have noticed that men in Australia are becoming more interested, even fussy when it comes to footwear - which is great! A love for well made shoes shouldn't only be shared between women, but men too.  

I chose an Oxford style shoe, using a brown tanned leather with a wax finish. To give it an edge, I opted without laces. For this reason, elastic inside the shoe needs to be attached to hold the foot in. I also decided to make my own leather stack heel which has a nice natural finish when stained. Here is the step by step process of my first men's pair. I hope you like them.

Grey is the new Green

Recyclable products are becoming more and more popular and even fashionable, not only in Australia but all over the world. Many aspiring and successful designers are looking towards greener ways of creating their products. The material I have chosen is called EchoPanel.

Little Derby

Toddler shoes... So little, so cute, so fun, so colourful! Oh I couldn't resist and had to make my first pair! I have always wanted to make a pair of kid's shoes so I decided to make a pair of derby kicks! It is even more challenging making little people footwear because one tiny mistake can be very obvious. Derby or Gibson style footwear has evolved so much over the years, so I wanted to test myself and try and create a pair that are stylish but also have a casual edge to them.

I hope you like them! But more importantly, I hope the little ones like the look of these!

Australian Made

I came home from Italy filled with new ideas and a better understanding in how to design and make shoes. Although I learnt a lot overseas, it wasn't enough. The teachers in Italy kept telling me to stay for the three year course so I could get a better understanding of the shoe design and making process - if only my bank account agreed!

A month after I returned, I jumped straight back in to the industry, after being accepted into a 12 month Custom Made Footwear Certificate at TafeSA. Within the first four weeks I completed my first pair. I tried my best to capture the process of these shoes to share with you.

Made in Italy

Market Research 

It is important to find a niche market or field that you are interested in when designing your own shoe collection. In this course I was overwhelmed by the different styles of footwear in Italy, from the vintage stores to the high end brands. There was one style I fell in love with in the Celíne window one morning. It is simple yet classy and very comfortable. I wanted to see if I could create my own version. 

Céline