M A K E S H O E S
Hi, I’m Stace.
I make handmade leather shoes.
In the Spring & Summer, I make handmade leather sandals (you can learn to make your own, too)
Year-round, I make colorful shearling Cabin Slippers.
As far as sandal making goes, I believe that anyone can learn to make their own sandals with experienced, real-time instruction and a few simple tools & materials. You’ll be reminded of your accomplishment every time you wear your handmade sandals (and receive tons of compliments on them)
I’ve taught hundreds of students to successfully make their own sandals. Learn more about our sandal making workshops here
Why make Handmade leather sandals?
There is a long and varied history of sandal making - the oldest footwear in the world are a 10,000 year old pair of sandals! Bespoke leather sandal shops once dotted coastal towns throughout California, though this craft has become rare as shoe production has moved away from artisan methods & materials, and ‘fast fashion’ has brought most production overseas. These days, one has to travel abroad for custom leather sandals, or visit one of the few artisans still practicing this craft in the US. Click here to meet some of Stace’s favorite sandal makers, past and present.
Stace works to revive this traditional way of shoemaking by teaching sandal making workshops throughout California - and now, anyone in the US can learn to make sandals at home in our Virtual Sandal Making Workshops.
Leather sandals are wonderful for many reasons: they are sustainable, beautiful, easy to repair, they grow more comfortable with age, and can be made for family and friends. Not to mention sandal making is empowering, fun, and part of the Slow Fashion movement.
Our sandals are created entirely from Leather - no plastic or synthetic components involved.
When you learn to make your own sandals, you become part of a centuries-old legacy of making objects that are both utilitarian and beautiful - a custom pair of leather sandals, built specifically for your feet.
Barbara Shaum at her iconic East Village Sandal Store. Photograph by Jonathan Becker.
How leather sandals are made
My goal is to teach you to make your own leather sandals, from molding the leather soles to accurately fitting the straps to your feet. After the workshop, you’ll have the skills to replicate the process at home. Sandal making materials can be purchased a-la-carte, or you can purchase a Sandal Making Bundle for an all-inclusive way to make another pair of sandals.
Here is an overview of the sandal making process, from start to finish.
With a few exceptions, almost all of the students in our workshops are first-time sandal makers. See what our students are making in our workshops and see what students are saying about the experience. You can also peruse love letters from students - sandal makers truly are some of the best people out there!
Several of Stace’s students continue to make sandals, and some have gone on to create their own shoe lines. Check out what students are up to.
welcome to the world of sandal making
Which sandals will you make?
“Discerning and creative people appreciate custom-made sandals, and this is one of the major rewards that come from working in this particular craft field. ”