Philip Taylor - 'Bespoke Orthopaedic Shoemaker

No nails hand lasting'.

Philip started making shoes in 1965, aged just eleven. Working under some great shoemakers, and some not so great, he was able to look at shoemaking techniques that might make life a little easier, and more profitable.

He took a variety of hand-lasting methods and tried to combine them into a simple lasting technique that he still uses and teaches today.

​

Robert Covaciu - Bespoke Shoemaker

Shoe adaptations.

Robert works with one of the city of London's long established firms. He is currently enroled on Bill Bird's apprenticeship scheme. He says:

"Shoemaking found me more than ten years ago. I started out in Hungary as an apprentice, doing the gritty, hands-on jobs in a handmade shoe workshop. From there, I moved into making equestrian boots, which taught me a lot about precision and fit.

​

Bill Bird - Bespoke Orthopaedic Shoemaker

Designing and drawing the perfect shoe.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Dean Westmoreland - Bespoke Shoemaker anmd Repairer

Shoe restoration.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Martin Kistner - Bespoke Orthopaedic Shoemnaker

Zwiegenähte shoe construction

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Adam Law - Bespoke Lastmaker

The twisted last method.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Nigel Mann - Sewing Machine Engineer

Looking after your sewing machine.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Tony Knaggs - Northampton Chamber of Commerce

Starting and running a small business.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

Yvette Worrall - Stitchdown Shoemaker

The stitchdown construction method.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

​

As well as the above speakers, we have two short 'Profile' slots from:

Brian Harvey (70 years in the industry) and....

Freya Allen (Life after DeMontfort University)
 

​

​

​