Workshop Berlin

One of our greatest satisfactions is teaching other people the craft of pattern making and shoe manufacturing, and in particular the hand-stitched espadrille. From April 11 to 14, 2014, we held a shoe workshop at AMD Akademie Mode & Design Berlin. Antje Drinkuth, a teacher at the school, met us during one of our fairs in Paris. It was she who invited us to participate in the workshops that take place before the start of the semester. The students came from various disciplines such as Fashion Design, Fashion Journalism and Design Management. Although they mainly studied in Berlin, some came from other German cities expressly for the workshop. In four days, the students designed and produced their own pair of espadrilles. After each student created their mood board using material and fabric cutouts, they began the design process on the last. Taping, key points, design layout... A laborious process that the students carried out with enthusiasm. Afterwards we taught them how to make the patterns from their masterpattern or trepa (as we call it in Spanish). They used the patterns to cut the cuts from the materials they had chosen. Each student made their cuts with the sewing machines in the school's Atelier, very well done by the way! And finally... the hand-stitching to the floor. A needle, cotton thread and a "slipper" (a thimble for the palm of the hand used to sew the espadrilles by hand), and a lot of patience! The students did a great job and they all left very happy with their pair of espadrilles. And we enjoyed the experience and Berlin as much as anyone.