The meaning of "HANDMADE"

Back in 2004, I spent a whole year studying the biomechanics of the foot and designing/making footwear as part of my graduation project. To this day, I regret not following my Thesis Director's advice to pursue my passion and enroll a Master's degree in Cordwainer at the London College of Fashion. Fast forward to now, my interest for shoemaking is still very much alive. Back in January of 2019 I went to the Centre Des Metiers Du Cuir in Montreal to fulfill a longtime dream of mine to dip my toes in the art of shoemaking. It took 40hrs of 1:1 time under the mentorship of the amazing Niki Jessup (who's also behind the label Atelier Hotel Motel) to complete this project. Using the most traditional techniques, every piece is made out of leather and shaped by hand - from the toe/heal cap, to the sole and everything in between. The art of shoemaking is so complex, it's overwhelming. Taking this course made me appreciate what goes into making a good pair of shoes, the knowledge and experience it takes as well as the time and skills to make something that will be comfortable and long lasting - all things that need to get accounted for in the price of goods sold. The experience also validated, in our era of fast-fashion, that there's no such thing as a low price "handmade" item. When purchasing a inexpensive pair of shoes, someone/something along that way is paying the price of the low cost associated to it – be it the people, the quality, or the environment. Scroll down to see the final product and few images on the process.