Introduction To Pattern Cutting For Footwear

In this 15 minute lesson, designer and maker Philippe Holthuizen gives his insight on how 3D printing can work for footwear, particularly within a sustainable setting. His brand FUSED Footwear offers super cool sneakers all printed with his own tinkered with 3D printer, all of which can also be returned and recycled. Philippe provides honest advice on launching and growing a business that offers a niche product, including what you should consider when it comes to scaling, pricing, finding your audience and how to grow as a creative business person.

Experienced footwear designer Stefan Mathys, and now co-founder of repairable footwear brand VYN, joined us to give insight into how footwear design and production costs work in reality for mid-range fashion footwear brands. He gives thoughts on how a footwear brand or line could be implemented to consider the full life cycle of materials and product, how to engage customers with repair practices, and the ways in which fast fashion brands could adhere to similar systemic design shifts. This is a longline 40 minute interview that dives deep in to many questions, and will leave you feeling inspired and motivated, as well as better equipped in knowledge when it comes to repair models.

As you may have heard, sustainable footwear is really picking up speed. In a recent blog post I looked at some different brands and initiatives focusing on recycled, and even recyclable footwear. One brand that I really admire from their product right through to their ethos and business model is MDMAshoes, and I had the chance to ask their incredible founder Sara Pignatelli some questions and find out more about the MDMAshoes story.

This is a read-only lesson so carve out 30 minutes and take notes. Equipping yourself with the terms of footwear design and manufacture will help streamline your time with factories and pattern cutters, and understanding where sustainable alternatives could be found will trim energy spent sourcing. In this lesson we cover the anatomy of the shoe to aid in your recognition of the many parts and components that go into a piece of footwear, and most importantly, the considerations you could and should make when it comes to responsible decision-making.

Thumbnail image: HOTELMOTEL

Join us for an hour-long online live networking session to discuss topics surrounding the sustainable and ethical developments in footwear.

This will be a private session on Zoom with limited capacity. You must be a registered member of The Sustainable Fashion Collective Member in order to gain a place. Registration is free: join here.

Thumbnail background image: Adidas' circular trainer

When?

Online - Monday 28th June 2021, 7-8pm BST
(PST 11am / EST 2pm / CEST 8pm / IST 11.30pm)

For our 2021 Masterclasses, we are diving into specific topics within fashion, and one we have yet to cover in depth is footwear. As always we take a holistic look at the innovations, research and brand case studies to provide you guidance and advice should you be developing your own range or label.

Register on Eventbrite to secure your spot.

What?

Our new format live sessions aim to provide creative entrepreneurs and those interested in fashion production issues a space to chat with one another. There will be a 10 minute introduction into the key issues within the sustainability and ethics of the footwear industry, with two 15 minute sessions in breakout rooms to discuss a specific topic. We will have 10 minutes at the end of each session to give feedback and converse as a group.

• Introduction to theme: sustainable and ethical developments in footwear (10 minutes)
• Breakout room #1 (15 minutes)
• Feedback discussion #1 (10 minutes)
• Breakout room #2 (15 minutes)
• Feedback discussion #2 and close (10 minutes)

Our topics will include: circularity, bio-based materials, the role of big players, craftsmanship and the role of small designers.

This is a new format, so we will welcome feedback at the end of the session. Please come with an open-mind and a notebook.

Video is not essential, though is preferred to create a cosy atmosphere. We will only record the group segments for our own replay, and it will not be streamed live.

Moderators:

Moderated by both Charlie Bradley Ross, director of Offset Warehouse and The Sustainable Fashion Collective, and Stephanie Steele, the business' marketing and fabric guru.

Ticket cost:

Free to attend, but you must be a registered Member of The Sustainable Fashion Collective to attend: click here to join.

Please book on Eventbrite to secure your space, and we will check that you are a registered Member. You will then receive update email notifications from Eventbrite with video link.

>> Register on Eventbrite to secure your spot. <<

This 25 minute practical lesson is led by Amanda Overs, Director and Founder of I Can Make Shoes, a business that provides support and technical skills in developing and designing your own shoes at home or as a fashion business.

In this lesson, Amanda explains what a shoe last is, and then takes you through the steps in taping up your last and designing on it, before showing you how to create a full pattern for a heeled court shoe - knowledge that can be easily transferred to other styles.

Please note, if you are listening to this as an audio file, there will be sections of silence as this is where Amanda is showcasing particular techniques.

Find more Masterclasses from I Can Make Shoes at: https://icanmakeshoes.com/

When Kyle Parsons uncovered the vast environmental issues caused by discarded rubber tyres in Bali, he made it his mission to counteract the crisis by developing sandals made from repurposed waste. Today, Indosole is an internationally recognised sustainable footwear brand, appearing on Forbes's list of four social enterprise companies to watch.

In this video, we hear about the process of scaling the business from just four sandal designs to the international success it's achieved today, their ongoing funding journey and challenges, and what it means to Kyle to run a B Corp certified company.

 Nida Gonul is an inspirational, sustainable footwear designer. She completed a masters in Footwear at Central St Martins three years ago, working with non-leathers. I was sooo excited when she told me about her experience growing her own Kombucha Leather for her footwear designs and how her experiments with the fabric brought her closer towards a completely sustainable solution for footwear - incredible! Naturally, I couldn't wait to get her in to tell us all about it! She's now launching her own ethical and affordable footwear brand and also spoke about her journey setting up her own brand so far... enjoy!

Recycled footwear doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. This exciting and cutting-edge alternative blends eco-friendly principles with those of style and fashion. Right now, lots of designers are directing their focus towards footwear that attracts attention while also conforming to the low-impact lifestyle that so many crave by using innovative shoe materials. Recycled footwear is a great solution as it binds function and practicality with already existing materials. It’s a trend that lots of small businesses have capitalised on for years, and now big brands are starting to take notice.

A 13 minute lesson that looks at key social sustainability considerations you should make when manufacturing footwear. Director of sustainable materials solutions marketplace Global Green, Rodrigo Lopes, joined us to give insight into how footwear manufacture operates in his home Brazil, where he also operated shoemaking factories. Learn about how to ensure skilled footwear producers retain and pass on their skills, the importance of pushing for fair trade manufacturing principles, and what footwear production looks like in South America.

Thumbnail image: Bolivian footwear factory via Voa News

In the introduction to this Masterclass, discover the vital things to know before you start your pattern cutting journey. We take you through essential pattern cutting equipment, an explanation of the standard terms you'll hear when working with patterns, and an overview of the different methods out there.

Gain insight into the world of creative pattern cutting, a profession that demands strong creative vision and problem-solving skills, and how a pattern cutter’s capabilities can be applied to reducing waste right from the design stage.

We revisit this episode from 2017 with Franki Campbell, whose approach to zero waste pattern cutting is pushing boundaries. Driven by her passion for sustainability, she has developed patterns optimised to cut down as much waste as possible using smart techniques and a holistic approach to how textiles are used in the studio.

 About the speaker:

Franki Campbell is a Creative Pattern Cutter. An early interest in sewing and garment construction led her to undertake courses in corsetry, costume and bespoke pattern. After graduating from the PGC in Innovative Pattern Cutting at Central Saint Martins, her interest in sustainable fashion found her interning at Safia Minney’s label People Tree. Today she works freelance, making patterns for multiple fashion lines. 

Find Franki at:

www.frankicampbell.co.uk

Instagram: @franki.creativepatterncutter