How We Develop New Shoes: A Look Inside Our Process

Curious about how a new Leather loafer design comes to life? Here is a breakdown of our standard development process for cementing footwear.

It all begins with the client’s design sketch. Based on this concept, we search for a suitable existing outsole. At this initial stage, we confirm key technical details with the client: the size grading, the size range, and, most critically, the precise length standard for the sample size.

We also request the client's Leather loafer last at this point. This allows us to accurately match their specific requirements for fit, including all critical dimensions and the overall shape of the last.

Beyond selecting from standard outsole molds, our factory is equipped with in-house tooling capabilities. This means we can also create completely custom outsole molds to match unique client designs. For a custom mold, we require the client to provide their lasted upper and detailed 3D design files.

Using these, we can precisely engineer and produce a mold that brings their specific outsole vision to reality.

Once the outsole is finalized, we move on to developing the upper. According to the client's tech pack or drawings, we specify the materials for each component—such as the tongue, heel counter, and logo areas. Our team then creates the initial pattern for the upper parts. All materials are carefully sourced and dyed to match the exact colors specified in the design.

Next comes the insole. We develop this component based on the client’s requirements for material, thickness, and cover fabric. Using the base data from the Leather loafer last, we engineer and produce a sample insole that fits perfectly with the outsole and last shape. This development phase typically takes about one week to complete.

The final step is bringing all the components together. We produce sample outsoles in the colors that match the upper. The developed upper is then lasted and carefully bonded to the outsole using the cold-cement process. After assembly and finishing, a complete sample Leather loafer is ready for review.

This is our streamlined journey from a client's sketch to a tangible sample, ensuring every detail aligns with their original vision.