Just when I thought these collabs couldn't get any better... This is our latest 'Get Inspired' collaboration with Kiwi artist @phoebeganderart ☀️ 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. All the shoes made in this series […]
Our newest make for our Get Inspired series, featuring these chunky rubber soles which we just cannot get enough of! 🌟 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe designs with the intention to inspire our community to get creative with their home shoe projects. All the shoes made in this series (or variations […]
We’ve been waiting for the perfect pair of shoes to make with these crazy green heels and finally Tessa just decided they would be all green sparkly party shoes, and what can I say.. They’re perfect! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe designs with the intention to inspire our community to get creative with […]
This collaboration was particularly special for me, as I have always been a firm believer that there is a link between craft and mindfulness so when I came across Rachel Snack of @weaverhouseco I was not only totally impressed with her work but also with her ethos. 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design […]
Since we’re going into fluffy slipper season again I thought I’d share this fluffy slipper tutorial I made last year, I hope you enjoy the video lesson and make lots of your own fluffy slippers from home. What you need: Get from I Can Make Shoes: • Glue - https://icanmakeshoes.shop/products/shoemaking-glue-solvent-based-125ml • Insole Board - https://icanmakeshoes.shop/products/texon-insole-board-sheets […]
Ok these collabs just keep getting better and better! Here's our latest ‘Get Inspired’ collaboration with ceramic artist @ivyivyivyivy 🌟 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. All the shoes made in this series (or variations […]
It’s always such a treat when we get to share our latest ‘Get Inspired’ collaborations, and this one is no exception! I mean honestly, check out these boots we did with Fibre Artist, @meg.spitzer! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices […]
Well it’s big black boot season again…. I know everyone is saying this but HOOOOOOW?!?… I’m still processing 2020 and we’re already wrapping up 2021! Anyway I know everyone feels like that, so I won’t dwell on it i’ll just tell you about making these boots instead because it’s waaaay more interesting. So where should […]
I loved this little project, such a simple design and SO quick to make! I’ve had this rich purple cow hide leather from GH Leathers for a couple of years and loved this little project.. It was a last minute decision to have them be open slides instead of fully closed at the back loafers, […]
These mary janes have been a long time in the making! I got these crystals on a buying trip in Istanbul back in 2018 and have been wanting to cover some heels with them ever since. I don’t really know what has been standing in my way, I guess I just hadn’t been inspired for […]
Ok these are pretty much the cost comfy shoes I think I have ever made... Incase you missed it the other week, our friends from @zapateriahub in the Philippines sent over one of their awesome M.Y.O. (Make Your Own) Slider Kits and they included a few extra footbeds for me to play around with 🙂 I […]
I am SO excited for this collaboration with @cococlemshop for our ‘Get Inspired’ series! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. @cococlemshop is an eco friendly swimwear brand that seeks to create wearable art for a […]
I am SO excited for this collaboration with @candicegray_textiles for our ‘Get Inspired’ series! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. @candicegray_textiles is a UK Based Printed Textile Designer. I’ve been following Candice for a while […]
One of my favourite things about being a shoemaker is being able to make my besties their wedding shoes and this pair was extra fun because Lucy requested a pair of GOLD BOOTS! Lucy's wedding was on a farm and had a festival vibe with the theme of the wedding being GOLD! Us bridesmaids were […]
This weeks ‘Get Inspired’ shoe project was made using paints from @AngelusPaintUK Something we get asked all the time is what paint we recommend for painting leather shoes and our go to paint is almost always @AngelusPaintUK I really love this brand because the paint is perfect for painting shoes and in this case cherries […]
I am SO excited for this collaboration with @ZebraKnits for our ‘Get Inspired’ series! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. Lily (@ZebraKnits) is a Knit Artist creating wonky, weird knits for your heart. I am […]
I am SO excited for this collaboration with @ByAdelineWang for our ‘Get Inspired’ series! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. @ByAdelineWang is a Punch Needle Artist based in the SF Bay Area, USA. I’ve been […]
I am SO excited for this collaboration with @ni.studios for our ‘Get Inspired’ series! 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. @ni.studios is a jewellery brand run by the lovely and very talented Daisy. Daisy handcrafts […]
Another shoe in our 'Get Inspired' series, designed and made by @lillaejuhaszshoes 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock creative ideas and apply them to shoes. 💥 We were kindly gifted these POW! motifs by @abakhanfabrics (which we are totally obsessed with by the […]
Here we have the second shoe in our 'Get Inspired' series, designed and made by @lillaejuhaszshoes 'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock creative ideas and apply them to shoes. We were kindly gifted these gorgeous butterfly motifs by @abakhanfabrics (which we are totally […]
We're kicking off #MeMadeMay with the start of our new in-house series of makes to help get you inspired to do some 'Me Made Shoes!' Wooooooooop!! 🤩 Why you may ask? Well, over the past year we've had lots of you lovely people join our Online Footwear Masterclass and now that so many of you […]
This is a great question and one that I get asked all the time, ‘How long does it take to make shoes?’ The answer will depend heavily on the design of the shoe, but to give you a rough idea if you are making your own shoes following our home shoemaking techniques it can take […]
We get asked this question all the time ‘How much does it cost to make shoes?’ The cost of making shoes totally depends on the design of the shoe and how many pairs you are looking to make. When having shoes mass-produced, the more shoes you make, the cheaper the cost. This is because you […]
How do you make shoes? Great Question! This all depends on the style of shoes you are making but most shoes follow what is called the ‘cemented construction’. In a nutshell, ‘cemented construction’ is referring to a shoe that is help together with super strong glue. It’s where the upper materials of the shoe are […]
Ever found yourself wondering, ‘Can I make my own shoes?’ Our answer is Hell Yes! 🌟 Learning how to make your own shoes is much easier than you would think and can easily be done from the comfort of your own home. Home shoemaking is very similar to traditional shoemaking with a few upgrades when […]
'I Can Make Shoes' is a shoe school that was founded in London in 2010 with the aim to simplify the shoemaking process, giving complete beginners the skills to make their own shoes from home. Fast-forward over a decade and the school has organically grown into an internationally renowned online learning platform servicing thousands of […]
If you're struggling to figure out which leather to use for your home shoe or bootmaking project, here is a bit more info to help you with your decision 🙂 I'm always talking about choosing the right thickness but it's really more about stretchiness. The reason I talk about the thickness is because if you […]
Since we launched our online courses on home shoemaking we have received lots of great questions about sewing machines. In this post we hope to put to rest some of your questions and point you in the right direction so that you can start your shoemaking journey from home. DO YOU NEED A SEWING MACHINE […]
Every shoe starts with the last. The last is a shoe shaped block that the shoe is built around and the shoe takes on the lasts shape in the process. With this in mind you have to choose the right size, shape and heel height of your last before you begin making a shoe. Lasts […]
The 'topline' of a shoe is any visible design line of the style. Just like dressmaking the toplines of shoes can be stitched in an array of different ways to create a different look or feel. In the video below i'll introduce you to a few of the most popular topline treatments in shoes and […]
There are lots of different methods in which shoes are constructed, but the most popular method is called 'cement or cemented construction'. This method is the easiest and most accessible shoemaking construction and will likely be the method used for many of the shoes you own. The cemented construction - in a nutshell - is […]
Click on the image below to watch a short video on insocks. Insocks or insole socks are one of the final touches to making a pair of shoes and are really important for making sure your shoes are comfortable, look great and fit well. 'Insocks' often get mistaken for 'insoles' but in the shoemaking world […]
To start off your journey in footwear it's important to know the key components that go into making a pair of shoes. Even if you don't plan to make shoes of your own and are more interested in starting a shoe brand - its crucial that you know what these components are, so that you […]
In December 2019 Amanda traveled to the Philippines with The British Council (@phbritish) as part of a social impact project. Amanda teamed up with Unyx, the co-founder of Zapateria Hub (@zapateriahub) and they ran a workshop teaching basic sandal making to young women and girls from local Filipino communities. They called it ‘We Can Make […]
In December of 2019 Amanda was invited by The British Council and Zapateria Hub to work on a Social Impact Workshop teaching shoemaking to young women and girls in local Filipino communities. Zapateria Hub is a local shoemaking hub, helping young and emerging designers find a place to grow and develop as designers with the […]
For the past decade Dr. Najwa Javed has been working on improving the way that people care for their foot health. After years of development and countless requests, Najwa has created the E'Mar line of stylish heels with hidden alignment technology. (This means comfortable high heels!) Can I get an AMEN! When Najwa set out […]
You may have seen some of our students occasionally make their own wedding shoes during our courses. We shout it from the rooftops because making your own shoes is really just the best thing ever – even if they’re for everyday, let alone your wedding day. This time the wedding shoes we’re talking about were […]
Simona came to I Can Make Shoes in 2018 and has since launched her very own luxury shoe brand, SIMONA RUSK. The debut collection, Heirloom, is a tribute to her Mum - inspired by the lavish interiors and beautiful gardens of Britain’s stately homes. Simona has collaborated with UK-based maison Henry Bertrand to develop bespoke […]
So after creating my best friends wedding shoes from an old pair of heels, I was still itching to create something else ‘weddingy.’ ….All up until I had to try on my bridesmaid dress – A beautiful creation from reformation (I’ve fan girled this brand for a while so I was ecstatic when I found […]
This week we've been celebrating International Stress Awareness Week! This topic is really close to our hearts at I Can Make Shoes because we believe wholeheartedly that making things can be a form of therapy for some people and has certainly been an outlet for our founder Amanda over the years. Making things with your […]
1. Shoes too big? “What are insoles?” you may ask. An insole is a soft pad (usually made from a foam, gel or leather material), which you place inside your shoes to provide support, cushioning and even warmth for your feet. Although often intended to help with posture problems and other discomforts, they’re also super-useful […]
Solace London is a British womenswear brand founded by Laura Taylor and Ryan Holliday-Stevens in 2013. Longtime friends and collaborators, the duo share a dynamic background spanning design, production, retail, marketing and creative direction. They also happen to be our neighbours, so it was a real pleasure when they asked us to work on sampling the shoes […]
I am so excited to be sharing this one! Maya took her first step in the world of footwear back in 2017 when she joined our Footwear Masterclass in London. Fast forward to today, and I am blown away with how far she has come, having just launched her shoe line, MAYA LAKIS. Her first […]
OUR GUIDE TO CRAFT IN EAST LONDON "London has long had a Fashion Week and a Design Festival. Now there is London Craft Week. A magical combination of imagination, individuality, passion and skill found in the best-made of things." shares Guy Salter, Chairman of London Craft Week. And we couldn't be more thrilled to be […]
As we head towards our 10th birthday, that's right tenth! we want to celebrate our amazing community of shoemakers. Far from hiding what happens at our London and New York studios we're opening up the doors so that you can get to know our teachers, makers, students, friends and inspirations. To kick things off our […]
We're marking Fashion Revolution Day 2019 with the launch of our new sustainable option for vegan shoemaking. It seems like everyone and their nana is vegan right now, hey if it’s good enough for Beyoncé there might just be something in it, and while we love a good trend we also believe that there are […]
Finding your perfect pair of wedding shoes can either be the dreamiest experience ever or a retail nightmare straight out of Bridezilla. From not being able to find wedding shoes that you like to the moment you realise none of the shoes you’ve tried so far actually fit you right; what should be a sparkly […]
As more new mums open up about the post baby blues, we wanted to do something this UK Mother’s Day for the mummas who take a bit longer to get back on their feet. So we created a baby shoe-making kit that uses the art of craft-making to empower women through periods of post-natal depression. […]
With the 2019 International Women’s Day theme of #BalanceForBetter we could have posted about the art of balancing a career as a kick-ass woman with the million other things that women get done each day. Or about the need for a better balance of women in senior positions in fashion brands. Instead we decided to […]
CALLING ALL CREATORS. I Can Make Shoes was invited by adidas Originals for the London launch of the P.O.D S3.1, the design inspired by their mid-90’s running sneaker called Point of Deflection. Brooklyn Creator Farm recreated a larger version of their MakerLab at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch for a pop-up sneaker making event. Our […]
