How is a sole made?
In our quest to open the doors to the factories where our shoes are made and show you the different processes that go into making a pair of Naguisa shoes, this week we invite you to discover Miguel Ángel's workshop. Here, a team cuts, inks, polishes, engraves and protects the leather soles that many of you wear to travel through cities and towns around the world.
Something that at first glance may seem as obvious and ordinary as a sole, is one of the key pieces that make up the comfort on which we walk. In addition, each of these small pieces of leather has the mission of turning each boot into a long-lasting companion. These reasons are just some of the many reasons why at Naguisa we turn to expert hands, men and women who have been working with leather for generations, giving shape and value to this element, to make our collections.
The sole process begins with the cutting of the already tanned leather. Using a 'sheet' of this material, and using the die-cutting system, it is cut to the desired size.
Once cut and matched, the soles are matched to achieve the same thickness. This is an essential requirement for moving on to the next step: pre-sharpening. Using an automatic machine, the outline of the sole is marked and the edges are left raw for later dyeing.
Once coloured and dried, the soles go through the stamping process, in which they are marked with the number and our “Naguisa”. In addition, in the case of these soles we also add a non-slip stamping, to increase their comfort.
The next step is beveling, which, depending on the thickness of the sole and the design of the shoe, involves a small recess on the edge so that it fits perfectly with the shoe. This precise process is followed by polishing, the last of the steps in which the sole passes through rollers that give it the shiny finish that lights up our faces when we wear new shoes.
This is the transformation process of a leather sole such as those of the Bellver, Buran, Dana, Veleta or Elur models. Honest designs with which we help ensure that our artisanal legacy does not disappear.
