A pair of Loake Goodyear Welted shoes takes up to eight weeks to make. Some 130 skilled craftsmen, up to 75 shoe parts and over 200 different operations are involved. The following steps are the first key stages in our shoemaking operations. We hope they give you an insight into the process…

1. Clicking (Cutting)
This is the name given to the process of cutting the leather sections of the shoe uppers. The name ‘clicking’ is derived from the noise that is made when the blade of the knife is removed from the leather when this is done by hand. Although we source the finest leather from the best suppliers – all leather has its flaws. It takes a very skilled craftsman to be able to work the leather to avoid flaws and marks, yet minimise waste, whilst always cutting on the correct grain (the direction in which the leather should be cut to maintain the pattern shape.

2. Closing
“Closing” is where the various sections of the shoe upper are stitched together. There are many stages within this one operation. For example, the thickness of the leather is “skived” (reduced) to avoid bulkiness and the edges of the leather are stained, seared or folded to improve appearance. The brogue punch holes and eyelet holes are also added at this stage of the shoemaking process.

3. Lasting
The shoe upper is pulled over the “last” and attached to the insole at the toe, sides and seat. Before lasting, the uppers are “mulled” (conditioned) in a special room where the temperature and humidity are controlled to get as much moisture as possible into the upper before the lasting process. This makes the leather more pliable and allows it to mould to the shape of the last easily.

4. Welt Sewing
The “welt” is a strip of leather that is stitched to the upper and the insole, and to which the sole will also be stitched. Because welted shoes are sewn together, rather than glued, skilled craftsmen can dismantle and repair them – meaning if you take good care of the uppers, they can last you years.

For Part 2 of our shoemaking operations, click here.

Handcrafted Iconic Styles

Goodyear Welted

  • 96 Replies to “Shoemaking Operations: Part 1”

    1. and I can never bein company with this Darcy without being grieved to the soul by athousand tender recollection His behaviour to myself has beenscandalous,but I verily believe I could forgive him anything andeverything,えろ 人形

    2. Український сегмент мережі Інтернет отримав свіжий тематичний проєкт — навігатор по сайтам, метою якого є зібрати численні українські сайти.

      Новостворений портал збирає посилання на сайти, що розкривають чимало різних напрямків. Каталог включає інформаційні джерела масштабу країни, а також ті, що спеціалізуються на житті окремих регіонів та міст.

      Головне завдання проєкту — стати універсальним провідником для відвідувачів, які потребують актуальні місцеві медіа на різний інтерес: як-от оперативні новини чи політичне життя до історичних розвідок, молодіжних питань, культури побуту, активізму та аналітики.

      Представлений навігатор орієнтований на широку аудиторію та готовий до комунікації з редакціями, журналістами та компаніями, що прагнуть реклами, які прагнуть бути помітними в вітчизняному медіа-середовищі

    3. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a ProjectGutenberg ?electronic work or group of works on different terms thanare set forth in this agreement,you must obtain permission in writingfrom the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation,ラブドール av

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    enquiries@loake.co.uk
    +44 (0) 1536 415 411

    Our Customer Services department is open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5pm. We are closed at weekends.
    I speak
    and my currency is

    Back to Top