During the heydey of handcrafted footwear, the shoemaker was in charge of the entire process – from beginning to end. Even though it often seems like quick fashion rules, handcrafted shoes are still produced with a great deal of care.
High-quality shoes are now created utilising a multilayer manufacturing technique, unlike the original cobblers. If you are wondering “How does a factory manufacture shoes? Or perhaps how to make leather shoes?” then this is what we’re going to look at in more detail.
Different departments of a factory conduct specific steps in the leather shoes making process required for nested manufacturing. The shoes are passed on to the following department in line whenever a department has completed its task.
6 easy steps to make leather shoes
Step 1: The Design Team
Different departments are in charge of various parts of the production of shoes. Starting your private label requires support from the prototype to the completed product. The design section comes first.
Whether it is leather boots for women or men, these are the people with the artistic vision. The individuals who are aware of what makes a shoe look attractive and function properly. Initial designs are provided by the customer, which the in-house designers then improve to ensure they are technically sound for the production of shoes.
While some use computers, others prefer to draw by hand while creating footwear designs. But every completed design will show the sneaker from different perspectives.
Step 2: The Shoe Last Department
A shoe last is necessary before any footwear can be produced. This is the physical foundation for the construction of your shoes. To give the shoe its form, a shoe last includes using a mould that looks like a foot.
Originally made of wood, they are now also made of plastic and metal. A list is required for every left and right shoe to establish its form and size. However, a last is not just a haphazardly foot-shaped piece of wood, and there are other considerations to make while constructing one.
This includes the way a foot rolls in women’s leather sandals, when walking and how this affects elements like heel height. The last is put into the shoe later on in the process so that it may be modelled after it.
Once the shoe is almost complete, it is utilised once more to ensure that the final fit is consistent with the initial concept.
Step 3: Stamping and Sewing
Making shoes is a genuine skill, in part because of the enormous number of pieces required. Following the cutting of the high-quality leather components required for the shoe, stamping is the next step in the production of shoes.
The leather components that make up the shoe are now referred to as shafts and stamped, or marked. This will prevent misunderstanding when stitched together. After being stamped, the pieces are marked to show where eyelets need to be punched.
These are also noted if the shoe is going to have perforated accents, like a brogue. The same is true of the leather’s points, which will be sewn together to form a seam. Before the shaft is transported to the sewing section, the portions of the leather sewn are thinned out.
Step 4: Putting the Shoe Together
After being stitched, the shoe is delivered to the section that assembles the die. No prizes for figuring out that this refers to constructing the shoes; after all, this is how your shoes are manufactured.
Step 5: Step Insoles and Decoration
You’ll be happy to know that your shoe is coming together fairly nicely if you’re establishing your shoe brand. But it still doesn’t appear especially fashionable, and the interior is still a little shabby.
A filler layer is created to fix this. The filler needs to be flexible to enable comfort and mobility, hence cork is typically utilised. This will level the insole’s base before it is attached to the welt and securely sewn to it.
The holes in the leather left by the pins, that were inserted into the heel, will now be sealed. At this point, any decorative perforation is taken care of. Alternatively, if the shoe’s surface is flawless, seam holes are expertly concealed using a process that involves ironing, dying, and polishing.
The visible portion of the welt is later embellished, and the heel’s edge and outsole are abraded. The double seam is then compressed, and the sole’s heel and tips are coloured. Last but not least, the shoe is meticulously cleaned before a half-insole with the brand’s logo is placed inside.
Step 6: The Shoe Room
The shoe room is the last destination. For fans of footwear, this could seem like a dream come true. But this is where shoes go for one last tender touch, not a walk-in closet full of brogues and boots.
Here, are the final touches that distinguish custom shoes from other readily available footwear. The shoes are polished to a mirror-like finish, and if the look calls for it, laces are fastened.
A comprehensive final quality inspection is performed on every single pair of shoes. Once done, shoes are packaged and delivered to the retailer, where they are available for purchase and proud wear by a discerning customer like you.
