Handmade shoes are a luxury that many people have come to expect. They can be made from exotic leathers, hand-stitched with intricate embroidery, and even designed in custom colors. However, the craftsmanship behind these luxuries is often invisible to the consumer.

Traditional shoemaking techniques have been around for hundreds of years, and traditional handmade shoes are a signature part of the process.

The steps in making these items often include: cutting out the leather to make your pattern, punching holes with an awl through which cord will be threaded later on to hold everything together, sewing up the shoe using heavy needles that can flatten down any bumps or lumps in its path (including stitching done by hand), applying a sealant before staining if you want darker colors than what is natural from tannin-rich materials like oak bark, finishing off with waxes and polishes.