Our process of creating your shoes

Design session

  • To start by yourself, click here for templates and an explanation of how you can begin. For inspiration, you can look at our portfolio or click on the following items: Releases, One Of One, Collabs, or Sketches.

    Before we’ll go in depth about the designs, let’s look at the possible type of structures.

    You can choose from: leather, suede, nubuck, or exotic (python, alligator, ostrich, etc.) But also fabrics such as corduroy or canvas.

    We offer you the option to provide your own materials, such as clothing items from your loved ones that you wish to incorporate into your design. This personal touch allows us to infuse sentimental value into your bespoke footwear, creating a truly ‘one of one’ masterpiece.

    Once the color palette is chosen, we delve into the intricate details of your bespoke shoes. These details can take various forms, ranging from embroidering logos to laser engraving on leather patches of metal eyelets. Each element is chosen and crafted to reflect your unique style.

    In our process, we utilize authentic donor shoes, which are the original models of the brand you’ve selected. We carefully detach the sole of these donor shoes, making it the foundation for your handcrafted piece. Together we’ll construct the rest of the shoe from scratch.

    When we collaborate on a remote design, we understand the challenge of picturing the chosen materials and their quality. To make this process smoother we offer a designated design folder that we can send you. This folder includes your personalized design and selected materials but also additional samples showcasing other possibilities that complement your vision. The design folder is available for 30 euros, but will be subtracted from your total order when you decide to purchase the shoes, making it a special investment in your unique tailor made footwear.

Patterns

Upon receiving the donor shoes, our next step involves separating the top part of the shoe from the sole. That top section will be used to craft new patterns, paying close attention to the original proportions of the shoes. These patterns will be used as a guideline to rebuild your shoes with selected materials.

Our expertise extends beyond sneakers, we have the capability to create a wide variety of all conceivable footwear. If you wish to incorporate or blend elements from other brands or models, we have the ability to create patterns for those as well.

Cut and sew

Once the design is finalized, we proceed to order the required materials if they are not readily available in our inventory. When we collect all the needed materials the cutting can begin. 

We position the paper patterns over the desired material and use a special pen to mark the necessary lines. These lines play a crucial role in ensuring that the overlaying patterns are precisely aligned in the correct positions.
After all the patterns have been cut out, most patterns undergo a smoothing process which is called skiving. Skiving involves thinning the overlap of one pattern under another with a nice gradient. This results in a seamless transition of the materials.
Then the patterns will be glued and followed up by the process of stitching them together. This is a very intensive process because every millimeter can make a difference.

Lasting

When the shoe is stitched together, we must ensure that the shoes are brought into the right shape. This is where the “lasting” process begins. The top part of the shoe is stretched over the “last” and nailed to the bottom of the sole. During this process, the reinforcement materials are incorporated into the shoes to enhance their durability. Once the upper has been brought into its shape, the sole must be attached with glue using a mechanic flash activator.

Wrapping up

The shoes will be left on the “last” for 48 hours, ensuring they fully adopt the desired shape. During this time, any glue residues and markings are removed from the shoes as the final step to get them into perfect condition. Once the shoes have been removed from the last, we prepare for shipment with the utmost care and in distinctive VIJZ style.  The attention to detail when it comes to the packaging is just as important to us. Every pair of shoes is presented in our signature shoebox. However, we also offer the option to have a custom box made that fits the design of your footwear. Your order can be shipped out, but you’re also welcome to pick them up yourself at our atelier by scheduling an appointment.