If you still have questions after reading through the following or would like further clarification, please join us on Zoom on Friday 6th December at 7pm when we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

To join the session, please click on this link and use the ID and Passcode below to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 526 079 7581
Passcode: 5pSrk8

GENERAL

When do I have to submit my entry by?

Entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025

How should I submit my entry?

You should send your shoes and portfolio by Special Delivery (signed for) to:

The Craft of Shoemaking Award

The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers

Saddlers House

Gutter Lane

London, EC2V 6BR

Or you are welcome to drop your entry off in person to a member of the Cordwainers team at the above address.

Or you can also submit your biography and portrait (and portfolio if you wish) by email to office@cordwainers.org

Please share any large files (over 2MB) via Dropbox to office@cordwainers.org

When is the award ceremony?

The awards take place at Saddlers Hall in London on Thursday 12 June 2025.

Do I need to be from the UK?

No, but you do need to be living in the UK

Is there an age limit to enter?

No, we welcome entries from all ages

JUDGING

Who is judging the awards for 2025?

We will be revealing the eminent judging panel shortly.

When will the awards be judged?

Judging will take place in early May 2025 and the judges’ decisions will be final.

How will the entries be judged anonymously?

Only the title and description for each entry will be provided to the judges. That is why labelling of your entry with the title and short description is so important.

WHO CAN ENTER

We want the award to be open to as many people as possible, which is why the brief is so broad. Anyone from apprentices to students to vocational practitioners can enter, as long as you’re not selling your work.

Do I need to be a footwear student?

No, you can be any type of student to enter the award,  from product design to an engineer or architect.

Do I need to be a shoemaking apprentice?

No, you can be any type of apprentice to enter the award.

What does vocational practitioner mean?

We’re looking for people who enjoy making as a vocation or hobby. You might make shoes for pleasure, to improve your skills, for friends and family. You may have nothing to do with the shoe industry or you might work for a manufacturer or as a pieceworker etc. The important thing is that you’re not selling your work commercially.

THE BRIEF

Do I have to make a pair of shoes?

Yes. We believe that one of the most challenging aspects of shoemaking is to make a pair of shoes. As this award is all about making, then we are asking you to make a pair of shoes.

Do the shoes need to be handmade?

No, any form of construction is welcome, but we will be looking out for hand skills somewhere in your shoe construction whether its hand sewing the uppers to hand lasting, welting or finishing.

What does the portfolio need to look like?

The portfolio can be submitted as

  • A hard copy portfolio maximum 25 double sided pages
  • A PDF document via email

Please do NOT put your name on the submission. To ensure anonymity, please include only your project title and description.  Please share any large files (over 2MB) by Dropbox to office@cordwainers.org

Do I have to make the shoes on my own?

Yes, we want you to make the shoes, but you may have help if needed. If you do receive help, advice or technical support you need to tell us who and what it was and to document the process as part of your portfolio.

Examples could be having your uppers closed for you, technical advice on a specific stitch or technique or help with specialist equipment such as a sole press.

What do I do if I don’t have any lasts to work on?

We would be happy to lend you a pair of lasts until you have made your shoes. Please email us cd@carreducker.com to arrange to borrow a pair.

HOW TO SUBMIT

How do I submit my entry anonymously?

Your entry must have a title and a short description, 50 words max.

Each part of your entry, your biography, portrait photo, the portfolio, shoes etc. should have a label attached to it with your entry title and description.

ONLY the title and description will be used during the judging process so that the work remains anonymous.

It’s important that the title and description cannot be separated from your work. So it could be on a luggage label securely tied to the shoes or on a label stuck to the sock inside the shoes; as a label on the portfolio etc..

How do I submit my biography?

  • Your biography should be submitted by email, with a printed copy included with your work
  • When you send in your email write the TITLE of your work in the SUBJECT
  • The biography should be 200 words max.
  • The biography can also be submitted by email as an audio MP3 or video MP4 file The biography should include your name and the title of your work
  • Your name, biography and photo will only be used once the judging is complete The biography and portrait will form the basis for press information issued to members of the media and the footwear trade. 

How do I submit my portrait photo

  • Your portrait photo should be submitted by email along with your biography.
  • It should be a high-res jpeg file 300dpi and 2MB minimum.
  • When you send in your email write the TITLE of your work in the SUBJECT
  • Your name, biography and photo will only be used once the judging is complete
  • The biography and portrait will form the basis for press information issued to members of the media and the footwear trade. 

ENTRY – YOUR SHOES AND PORTFOLIO

What happens to my shoes and portfolio after I’ve submitted them?

The Cordwainers will hold onto all entries until the Awards ceremony in June. They will then need to be collected by you directly after the award ceremony. If necessary, arrangements can be made for them to be collected at a later date.

Will my work be photographed / use for press?

Yes, by entering the competition you are agreeing to photographs of your work being used by the Cordwainers and Carréducker for press releases, publications and social media to promote the award.

Please get in touch by email, cd@carreducker.com, if you have any further questions.

Thank you and good luck!