The origins

By using only the essential tools, only basic results can be obtained.

…and suddenly, that dark day arrived, on the rather pleasant summer of 2019. Oh my god, I stood in the middle of the office, stunned with disbelief. In an instant, I said to myself, “Hell, no! It's my time now, my rules!” This wasn't the first disappointment. I'd quit my job without saying goodbye, just like that.

I felt completely lost, with no plans for the future. Desperate to avoid this kind of situations, where your integrity and honor are sorely tested.

So, from now on, on my own terms. In 2020, I decided to set up my own business as a bespoke shoemaker. This decision was supported by my personal discovery that I could actually do this job well. In the summer of 2019, I bought myself a basic toolkit, cheap leathers, and plastic shoe lasts, roughly my own size.

I set myself to the goal of making a trial shoe to see how it felt to walk in. Without any training, books, or any real knowledge, I managed to create something that amazed my family and even professional shoemakers. It left a sweet taste in my mouth.

My very first sample shoe. September of 2019.

The technical details are also truly impressive. The construction is hand-welted all the way around the shoe. The sole is hand-sewn and pegged at the waist.

I used a blind stitch for the sole. Sure, why not?! You can probably imagine how I felt when, not yet having mastered a shoemaker's knife, I dug into the sole's grain!

This type of construction is still my favorite to this day. I think this particular combination is superior to others, especially if you love those beautifully slim waist lines.

The upper is entirely hand-sewn. At the time, I didn't own or even use a sewing machine. These were unfamiliar to me.

To add more style, I hand-made aglets from the same inexpensive goatskin I used for the upper. Overall, the work was practically done with a fork and knife, so to speak.

These shapes and specific type of construction are something I still love in my work.