The customer came to us with a pair of Diesel hi-tops which were beyond battered, but he loved them and they had sentimental value to him. Now, usuallywe avoid copying existing shoes as it rarely goes well for many reasons. But we liked these trainers and we liked the backstory, so we agreed to make a new pair "inspired" by the originals. And the Secker is the result - we love them!

The Secker hi-tops are hand lasted on a standard trainer last with a low heel and rounder toe, so technically, they are not fully bespoke - the customer was lucky that our standard size 9 fitted him just right. The foxing (the leather strip around the shoe) is hand stitched to the insole, much like a storm welt. We then filled the space behind the foxing with light flexible EVA before finishing it with a durable  rubber sole which can be replaced any number of times so they will be infinitely repairable which is very important to us.

There is a long zip for easy access which renders the laces redundant and they are really only a design feature. We sourced luxury nickel eyelets and incorporated the pockets from the original Diesel trainers as an homage to them. The customer thopught that was a nice touch.

UPPERS: alabaster nubuck; black and white claf additions; padded tongue; padded quarters, zips, nickel eyelets

LINING: black specialist trainer lining which wicks away moisture

MAKING: hand lasted; hand stitched foxing; EVA sole; Wellen outer sole

If you like the Secker hi-tops, you might like these too.

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With its retro styling, the Vince is quietly luxurious. We make them from Horween Chromexcel pull up calf to be superbly soft, with a cushioned leather interior and comfortable, lightweight rubber sole. So you can comfortably wear them all day, no problem.

Vince trainers are hand lasted on a specialist bespoke trainer last with a low heel and rounder toe. The double foxing (the leather strip around the shoe) is hand stitched to the insole, much like a storm welt. We then fill the space behind the foxing with light flexible EVA before finishing it with a durable  Vibram sole which can be replaced any number of times so they will effortlessly match the longevity of your other bespoke shoes.

There are textural rope seams on the quarters and thick padding around the top line for extra comfort. We also pad the tongue to give you all round cushioning.

UPPERS: burgundy Horween Chromexcel; raised rope seams; padded tongue; padded quarters;

LINING: veg tanned straw calf; matching burgundy padded cuff

MAKING: hand lasted; hand stitched double foxing; EVA sole; Vibram outer sole

If you like these Vince trainers, you might like these.

The post Vince Trainers appeared first on Carreducker.

With their retro styling, Bucklands are quietly luxurious - created in supple veg tanned calf leather to be superbly soft, with a cushioned leather interior and comfortable, lightweight rubber sole - designed to be worn all day.

The Buckland is hand lasted on a specialist bespoke trainer last with a low heel and rounded toe; and the foxing (the leather strip around the shoe) is hand stitched in place before the cushioned, lightweight, rubber sole is fitted by our expert manufacturer.

It has a fully repairable sole and will effortlessly match the longevity of your other bespoke shoes.

How Flexible is the Buckland?

THE BUCKLAND TRAINER:

• In Snow, Tawny and Raven veg tanned calf leather with black or natural leather foxing (or in a leather of your choice)
• A choice of metallic, kid or suede flashes
• Comfortable, cushioned and breathable
• Durable, lightweight sole
• Repairable

For Carreducker bespoke customers, we will make a new bespoke trainer last from your existing measures, so no further fitting or measurement is needed (unless you would like one of course).

If you are a new Carreducker bespoke customer, please include the option for LASTS at checkout (£660) and we will contact you to make an appointment to take your measurements or to send you an At-Home measuring kit.

And do please contact us if you have any questions or would like to explore other leathers or colourways.

(Please note that shoe trees are optional in the Bespoke Manufactured range).

MAKING THE BUCKLAND

The post Buckland Trainers appeared first on Carreducker.

CLASS CONTENT

This heritage shoe making course is designed for complete beginners. In a small group and relaxed and friendly atmosphere, we will guide you through the 200+ steps in the heritage shoe making process - lasting, welting, stitching on a sole, building leather heels and then finishing the shoes, all by hand. At the end, you will proudly walk away with a pair of shoes that you have made yourself!

GROUP SIZE

Up to 6 students, so there is plenty of individual guidance and attention

TIME

In terms of 10 weeks:

Monday evenings 6 - 9pm

Saturday mornings 10 - 1pm

Saturday afternoon 2 - 5pm

Please note: it takes approx. 3 terms to finish a pair of shoes / approx. 1 - 2 terms to finish a pair of sneakers

LOCATION

Studio 1.20, Oxo Tower Wharf, London SE1 9PH

(Nearest London underground and National Rail stations: Waterloo, Waterloo East, Embankment, Blackfriars Bridge and Southwark)

FEE

Classes costs £535 per 10-week term to make a pair of plain Oxford, Derby or Wholecut shoes or a pair of leather sneakers. There is a small surcharge for broguing, rubber soles, sneaker soles and boots.

*As a Carreducker shoemaking student, you receive a 10% discount on tools and materials that you buy from the Supplies Shop.

TERM DATES

Spring: January - March

Summer:  April - July

Autumn: October - December

[caption id="attachment_15821" align="alignnone" width="1489"] Here's some of our wonderful students and their shoes.[/caption]

CHOOSING YOUR STYLE

For your first pair of handsewn leather shoes arrange to come to visit us at Oxo Tower Wharf to try on shoes for size; then choose what you would like to make.

For sneakers, tell us your usual UK sneaker size, choose a colour and send us an outline drawing of your foot.

Drawing around your feet:

To draw around your feet, you'll need an assistant. Stand on a flat, hard surface, in the socks you will wear with your shoes, with your weight evenly balanced. Ask your assistant to draw around your feet, using an HB pencil. They should run the pencil around the outline of your feet, holding it vertical at all times. They then need to draw in a line at the heel and inside waist, by angling the pencil in against the foot to draw a curved line where the heel touches the paper and at 45 degrees on the inside wasit of the foot (the arch).

STYLE: The different styles are a Derby, Oxford or Wholecut shoe; Sneakers; or a Derby boot

[caption id="attachment_20180" align="alignnone" width="300"] Plain Derby shoe with metal eyelets [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_20211" align="alignnone" width="300"] Derby shoe with a straight toecap and brogue punch detailing[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_20200" align="alignnone" width="300"] Plain Oxford shoe[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_20193" align="alignnone" width="300"] Brogue Oxford shoe with a straight toecap[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19183" align="alignnone" width="300"] Wholecut shoe[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_20977" align="alignnone" width="300"] Handsewn sneakers[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_867" align="alignnone" width="300"] Plain Derby boot with eyelets and ski hooks[/caption]

TOE SHAPE: You can choose from a round or oval toe shape (sneakers are made on a sneaker last with a rounded toe).

COLOUR(S): Choose your shoe colour either from our core collection (see below) including black, dark brown, brown, tan, burgundy, navy or white

or choose an alternative +£30 per colour

DETAILS: Choose from blind or antique brass metal eyelets; add a straight toecap; add brogue punch hole detailing on the seams

EXTRAS

All the materials you will need are provided and your fee includes the cost of your shoe uppers (for first time Carreducker students only), but there are small additional charges for certain styles, please see below.

+£50 for brogueing

+£50 to make a pair of plain Derby boots

+£114 to make a pair of brogued Derby boots

+£80 to have the sneakers finished professionally with a flexible, white or black rubber sole

+ £150 for shoe trees, which can be personalised with your name or initials

Once you have made one pair of shoes with us, you can go on to make any shoe or low boot style of your choosing on the same last; or bring along your own lasts and we will have the uppers made for you.

The fee for subsequent pairs of uppers, depends on the chosen style, detailing and leather, but starts at £120 for a pair of plain Derby shoe uppers.

NEXT STEPS

Spaces are available throughout the year as students finish making their shoes, so you can start at any time if we have a place. Simply email us to let us know which start date and evening /morning you would prefer. Then we will arrange for you to pop into our workshop to choose your shoe size, style, colour and detailing so we're all set for when you start.

See our full Terms & Conditions here.

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