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THE MAKING OF DORTMÜEND SHOE |
Shoemaking is a time-consuming process requiring much attention to detail. Craftsmen begin by selecting the finest leathers available. After the leathers are carefully examined for any flaws, they are stored in a controlled environment of 65 percent humidity. This humidity keeps the skins soft and supple for the shoemaker’s touch.
Patterns are skillfully placed on the skins to achieve the best cut. Most Dortmüend’s top cutters have worked for the company since founded.
Skivers then take the cutter’s pattern and feather the edges that will overlap. This allows two leathers pieces to be joined without any detectable bumps or seams to irritate the wearer’s feet.
The next step is Hand-Sewn stitching, a combination of art and science. Careful hand-sewn stitching assures the seams will lie smoothly so the finished shoe will not warp. Once sewn, the patterns are inspected and then mulled, a process which includes exposing the skins to high humidity to ensure proper fit to the last.
One of the most important process in shoemaking is lasting, which shapes the leather for the life of the shoe. The lasted shoes are then inspected for smoothness and to ensure pair matches.
Shanks are fitted to the bottom of the shoe for life-long rigidity. The cavity between the insole and the outsole is then filled with Latex. Because this mixture never hardens, it provides a comfortable, elastic surface for the foot as long as the shoe is warn.
The outsole is a nonskid sloe and hand-sewn permanently to the shoe. The last is carefully removed from the finished shoe. The shoe is inspected, then cleaned, waxed and buffed. A final inspection is conducted before the shoes are sent to boxed. Altogether, approximately 165 steps have gone into the crafting of one pairs of Dortmüend Shoes.
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MAKING OF DORTMÜEND