Hi, I'm Lou! I launched Shoe School in New Zealand in 2015. Since then I've helped students create thousands of shoes of their own custom design.
 

I’ve been curious about shoemaking since I was a teen, obsessively saving for my 1st pair of purple 8-hole Dr Martens.

I wasn’t able to study shoemaking in NZ so I took a leap of faith and travelled to Australia. Back home I slowly, slowly began to collect antique shoemaking equipment. Gradually I built my own shoemaking studio, with an idea growing that perhaps one day I could teach - this was the beginning of the ‘maker’s movement’ and suddenly everyone, me included was fascinated by all things handmade. And so I doggedly built my studio, and practiced, practiced my craft. My single-minded focus paid off when I was invited to intern in Japan, where I honed my skills in bespoke techniques. More recently, I returned from the USA after immersing myself in the art of crafting cowboy boots. And now, after 8 solid years of teaching, I’m re-launching my business in Naarm! Check out the gallery below to see some of my work.

Please email me if you have any questions about your own shoe dreams! I look forward to hearing from you ☺️

Lou x
shoeschoolau@gmail.com