Shoegazing Shoemaking Competition

The Shoegazing Shoemaking Competition

Each year in May, I participate in the Shoegazing Shoemaking Competition, a prestigious event in the footwear world. This competition brings together 30 plus shoemakers from across the globe, offering a chance to showcase the best of craftsmanship, creativity, and precision.

Why I Enter

For me, entering this competition is about testing our skills. It's an opportunity to push the boundaries of my craft, exploring new techniques and materials while refining my approach to shoemaking. Each year presents a new challenge, a chance to improve and evolve.

It's also a chance to be amongst my peers. The shoemaking community is filled with talented artisans, and this competition allows us to connect, learn from one another, and celebrate the incredible work being done worldwide.

Finally, it’s about bravery. Putting my work up to be judged is never easy, but it’s a vital part of growing as a craftsman. Every critique is a lesson, every success a milestone. This willingness to be vulnerable in front of experts and enthusiasts alike keeps me striving for excellence in every pair I create.

Back at the Shoegazing World Championships – One More Time

When we finished 5th place in the 2025 Shoegazing World Championships, I genuinely thought that would be my final competition entry. It felt like the perfect way to bow out, and I couldn't imagine topping that result. Then my good friend Dana, the owner of Nang Boots (a minimalist boot brand that we make boots for), asked if I would make this year's competition boot for him. It was an opportunity that was simply too interesting to refuse.

The theme settled on was Stingray. Designing and building the boot was both challenging and rewarding, and I'm incredibly pleased with how the finished piece came together. Every competition is an opportunity to learn, experiment, and push craftsmanship a little further. This year our entry finished in 13th place, and I'm genuinely delighted with that result. The standard of work in the Shoegazing competition is exceptionally high, with talented makers from around the world producing outstanding footwear.

A huge thank you to Dana for persuading me to come out of retirement for one more project. Whether or not I enter again, this boot was a reminder that the real reward isn't just the final ranking—it's the satisfaction of creating something you're proud to put your name to.

The Shoe Gazing World Shoemaking Championships in London 2025

Our 5th submission to the world championship in Shoemaking 2025 is the Toasted Marshmallow Double Monk Strap. 

While working on what was meant to be the final version of this shoe, my workshop was devastated by a fire that destroyed the shoe itself — you can see the attached photo. This setback left me with just two weeks to craft a new version. Out of that challenge, and the determination it sparked in me and my team, the design evolved: what was once called the Marshmallow Double Monk became the Toasted Marshmallow Double Monk.

This double monk strap shoe is crafted from a deep, rich brown aniline leather that exudes sophistication. Its distinctive angular toe shape gives the upper a refined yet eye-catching character. Elevating the design further is the hand-embroidered beadwork along the piping and buttons, created by master Thai embroiderer Jib Blouin. Each bead is meticulously stitched in a randomized pattern using two shades of brown, accented with gold for subtle brilliance. The Cufflink/buttons themselves are embroidered in the same style, featuring a contrasting green and purple motif. All of this is unified by the upper’s exquisite high polish.

The playfulness of the Toasted Marshmallow Double Monk continues in the sole: composed of five layers of hollowed-out vegetable- barked tanned leather, it creates a striking stacked effect that symbolizes the layered journey of the design through the competition. When flipped over, the sole reveals its inner depth and the level of detail poured into the shoe from top to bottom.

The Toasted Marshmallow Double Monk stands as a testament to persistence, craftsmanship, and the will to overcome adversity — a creation that my team and I are deeply proud to present for this competition.

Past Entries from 2019 to 2024

Videos of Past Entries to Shoegazing Shoemaking Competition