Shoes and Craft

Being in the USA means a big change in my life. Not just different food, different culture and a lot of other things, a long list I, we have to adopt, but different challenges. First of all: set up a new work environment. being in the old workshop, with all the necessary equipment, old tools, SPACE is just awesome. The only problem, you only learn how awesome it is, when you don’t have it anymore. I don’t. But I have a new country, new environment and way more appreciation, what a shoemaker can get in Hungary, which is great.

As an accessory teacher I have to teach more than just shoemaking: moreover more than just footwear. Guiding students in making their ideas is not a big deal. Luckily I am well shielded in the field of problem-solving. The challenging area is the small leather goods and handbag. I was very much aware of this, so I could prepare in time. Moreover my background was not so far from bags, only I was not much interested in them. When I started to set up my brand, I made two logos: Koronya Handmade Shoes and Boots and… Koronya Leathercraft. Why? Because it is my heritage too. Kind of sleeping heritage, but very much mine. I believe I mentioned the story – the family history is not just about shoemaking, but leather crafts, like harness making, saddle-making, botmaking, tanning (one day ), too. So as a matter of fact, introduce some luxury bags was always somewhere deep inside my mind. Being in America just pulled it out.

it was a long process, I don’t want to get you bored dear reader, so let me just share the result.

This is the new baby. English – straight from England – bridle leather, entirely handmade (you know how I mean it, right? Entirely. No machines, every single stitch is made by my own hands – and the is lot: 6 meters, or 237 inches if you prefer). I made it for myself as it is only a prototype, the first part of my new “heritage”  (nomen est omen, right?) collection. 43 cm (17 inch) wide, 3.5 mm thick leather, all hardware is pure brass. The price is… well, high. I guess I will make it only for orders for a while. Interesting fact: I asked a bag maker to inquire about outsourcing, but they refuse me in a second, when they learned about the construction. It turned out, that they can’t make anything, like this, as it is more harness-making related stuff. Whatever it is, I loved it, I got compliments in the street for this.I must confess – I would wear it, even if I wouldn’t have to carry anything. 6 days or work went into this piece. I was literally sweating before I cut into the leather hide. (I was sweating also, when I made the edge slicking too as a matter of fact).

And here is the shoe from the title. Matching color, English welt, also for my own use. I actually used this shoe as a demo in my classes (started in Oklahoma), so somehow it had to be finished. Now it is.

And a detail shot. Why do I post this? So, you can laugh with me on the “handmade” things on Internet. When you have to sew through 3-4 layers of leathers with a machine – which is not impossible – but never this clean. This is sewn with a super strong thread, almost unbreakable one.

And as it was my first post in this year – have a wonderful new year!