Leather Cutting

With the mock-up adjustments made, the pattern is laid on the hide and the pieces are cut by hand. The cutter reads the leather first: the firm parts go where the shoe must hold its shape, the softer belly is avoided altogether.

Edges are then trimmed and skived thin so seams lie flat, and folded, punched or decorated as the design requires.

The pieces are stitched together with the linings to form the upper — the first moment the shoe looks like the drawing.