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Published on 1/30/25
When the My Pretty French Shoes project began, it came with the absolute prerequisite of working with an artisan. The demands for quality craftsmanship were high. To work and be able to confidently request luxury shoemaking services, I knew I would have to train and pass my CAP (vocational qualification). Here are some pitfalls I gradually learned to avoid, where there's absolutely no room for error! NEVER!
That's my master shoemaker's mantra! A rather paradoxical phrase, as hands are quite a useful tool for an artisan! Yet, the message remains: the shoe's upper – meaning the very fine leather of a pump, the patent of an ankle boot, the unique hue of a pair of ballet flats – is precious! Risking damage or contact with the machines surrounding the shoemaker could be fatal to it! The sanders used are fast and dangerous. One must be precise and meticulous: only the sole should be delicately sanded, for instance, to allow for the application of a protective sole. The angle of attack should not be chosen at random. Suffice it to say – yes! – I've had a few scares!
Painters have little tricks that even shoemakers are tempted to borrow when it comes to avoiding smudges: Firstly, pencil marking to get a perfect line under the shoe so that the sole protector is applied almost invisibly. The art of the shoemaker, let's remember, is based on the principle that their repairs should not be seen. So we work to the nearest millimeter. What a challenge when it comes to reproducing your line twice, since shoes come in pairs... Secondly, preparation tape! Don't show this to my master shoemaker. Of course, "fingers rather than the shoe", but a light touch on paper tape applied to patent leather is enough to reassure the shoemaker too!
Who would have thought? To be a shoemaker, and what's more, specialized in heels, I had to learn to hit straight! The famous dry hammer blow seen in 20th-century engravings hasn't changed: the heel still needs to be nailed! After nailing a certain number of shoes for all my friends, I'm now ready to replace the ones I've sourced for MyPrettyFrenchShoes... so know that they will have been fitted with love, strength, and meticulousness! I'll let you make your choice here!