Reality? Ummmm No, Runway, and is it for a hoof or a foot? Hmmmm.
Handmade Nirvana. The Holy Grail of Handmade. Shoes. Well the ones above are most certainly handmade but not the kind you would want to wear. I went in search of practical and stylish handmade shoes. It really is an art to make shoes, you can’t just sit down and teach yourself in an afternoon to make them like you can knitting or crocheting. There are so many considerations, style, durability, and then the tools you would need to make them. It’s a little mind boggling. Although hard to find there are handmade shoes out there, and some are not as expensive as you might think.
For pure style, Mohop on Etsy has a super cute concept. A wooden sole with special elastic loops that you can send any ribbon through, each pair is handmade by Annie Mohaupt and her small team of artisans.
If you are more of the bespoke type of customer, Cordwainer could be your perfect fit. They are distinctively designed on a natural last and are free from the toxic adhesives and other chemicals used in factory shoe making. The company was started by Paul Mathews in the 60’s. They are still making shoes today even though Paul has passed on. These lipstick red ones are great!
While they don’t sell on Etsy they have their own website and travel the shows. They will be appearing at the Contemporary Crafts Market in Santa Monica in November.
For just plain comfort, style, and a vegan shoe with great design sense HydraHeart has super cute designs.
They offer both beautiful bridal flats and cozy fall designs. But better order quick because the custom order deadline for Christmas orders is November 15th! So while hard to find, handmade shoes are out there, and these are definitely more of the “Reality” version.
