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Short course

The Complete Shoemaking and Footwear Short Course

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The Complete Shoemaking and Footwear Short Course | On campus
Learn the craft and heritage of shoemaking in this in-depth course covering pattern cutting, leather stitching and hand cutting. Use industrial machines develop the essential skills to create your own quality footwear.

Course description

Course overview

Shoemaking is one of the world’s oldest and most enduring crafts; a global industry that blends traditional hand skills with modern production technologies. From luxury ateliers and bespoke workshops to independent designers, makers and sustainable footwear startups, skilled makers are in high demand.

This short course gives you hands-on access to the techniques and resources that underpin all professional footwear manufacturing, and methods used by shoemakers and sustainable footwear startups.

Based at the London College of Fashion (LCF) East Bank campus, you’ll work in fully equipped shoe making and footwear studios, using the same specialist tools, materials and industrial machinery found in professional workshops.

You’ll learn essential craft skills, from pattern cutting and leather selection, to hand clicking, closing and construction, and observe how each stage fits into the contemporary footwear production process.

You’ll use this foundational knowledge to practice your skills on three increasingly ambitious projects to produce three pairs of handmade shoes.

This extended course, together with the Footwear Summer School Short Course, gives students access to industry‑standard equipment and the opportunity to create multiple pairs of shoes. You can also hear from recent students in Inside Footwear Summer School.


Who this course is for

  • Beginners with an interest in shoemaking or leathercraft
  • Designers seeking practical making skills
  • Fashion students wanting footwear knowledge for portfolios
  • Creative professionals exploring artisanal craftsmanship
No previous experience is required - just curiosity and enthusiasm.

Key information

Topics covered

Industry foundations

  • How the global footwear industry is structured - from artisan craft to mass production
  • The role of the last, sizing systems, and fit considerations used by contemporary brands
  • Professional terminology, material standards, and industry expectations

Craft skills development; you will gain practical mastery of key shoemaking processes, including:

  • Footwear pattern cutting: foot anatomy, last measurements, design standard creation
  • Hand clicking (hand cutting leather): tools, techniques, edge treatments, cutting leather)
  • Leather selection: how to identify suitable upper, lining, and reinforcement materials
  • Closing: assembling and stitching uppers using industrial sewing machines
  • Lasting and construction: shaping, attaching components, building the shoe
  • Finishing techniques used in professional manufacturing

Your three projects:

1. Court Shoe

Begin with the most versatile foundation for learning: the women's court shoe. Explore variations such as the Mary Jane and T-bar, sketch directly onto the last, develop patterns, and take your first shoe from concept to finish. Bar, sketch directly onto the last, develop patterns, and take your first shoe from concept to finish.

2. Flat Sandal or High Heel

Choose your pathway. Sandal-makers will explore slotted, skeleton and thong constructions; high heel makers will focus on balance, structural components and upper design.

3. Loafer, Court Shoe, or Sandal (your own design)

Design and create a bespoke pair using the techniques you’ve mastered. By now you’ll have the freedom to bring an original idea to life using existing lasts and professional components


Learning outcomes

  • Work safely and effectively with hand tools and machinery in the footwear workshop in line with health and safety instructions
  • Develop a comprehensive set of reference notes and supporting patterns for all your shoes directly from a last
  • Translate a footwear design idea into a wearable constructed outcome
  • Identify and prepare footwear components through cutting, skiving, and closing techniques
  • Apply leather handling and material preparation processes appropriate to footwear manufacture
  • Recognise finishing stages and apply edge treatment, polishing, and detailing techniques.
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance

Materials

  • Notebook and pen
  • Selection of drawing pencils and an eraser
  • Small scissors

All other specialist equipment will be provided. While every effort will be made to meet your size requirements, please be aware that it may not always be possible to make the shoe in your desired size. This is not a design course and the shoe style you make will be determined by the capabilities of the studio.

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