How to become an orthopedic shoemaker

How to become an Orthopedic Shoemaker

Becoming a shoemaker demands passion, patience, and perseverance. The shoemaking trade does not have strict requirements in terms of degrees or certifications. It is often recognized and valued based on the reputation, skill, and craftsmanship of individual shoemakers rather than official credentials. However, acquiring relevant training and/or formal education can greatly benefit aspiring shoemakers and provide a solid foundation for their career. Here are the educational paths commonly pursued by individuals interested in becoming orthopedic shoemakers:

High School Diploma
Complete your high school education or an equivalent qualification. Focus on subjects like art, design, mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as they provide a foundation for understanding the principles of footwear design and manufacturing.

Research and Familiarize Yourself with Shoemaking
Begin by gaining a solid understanding of the craft of shoemaking. Read books, watch tutorials, and explore online resources to learn about the tools, techniques, and materials used in the trade. Familiarize yourself with different shoe styles, construction methods, and the history of shoemaking.

Acquire Basic Shoe Repair Skills
Gain practical experience in shoe repair and maintenance. This will help you develop a foundation in working with footwear, understanding its components, and familiarizing yourself with different types of shoes. Consider working or apprenticing at a shoe repair shop to gain hands-on experience.

Orthopedic Shoemaking Apprenticeships and Mentorships
Apprenticeships and mentorship programs offer the opportunity to learn directly from experienced orthopedic shoemakers. By working alongside a master orthopedic shoemaker, apprentices gain practical knowledge, refine their skills, and absorb the techniques, craftsmanship, and nuances of the trade. Apprenticeships typically involve a longer-term commitment, where you work and learn under the guidance of a skilled practitioner.

Build a Portfolio
As you develop your skills, start building a portfolio of your work. Document your shoe designs, completed projects, and any special techniques or innovations you've mastered. A strong portfolio will showcase your abilities and help you attract clients or secure employment opportunities.

Establish Your Own Workshop or Seek Employment
Decide whether you want to establish your own orthopedic shoemaking business or work for an established company. If you choose to go independent, set up your workshop, acquire the necessary tools and equipment, and establish a presence through marketing and networking. If your preference is to be employed, research and approach orthopedic shoemaking companies or manufacturers.

Continual Learning and Improvement
The learning process in shoemaking is ongoing. Stay updated with industry trends, take short courses on specific aspects of orthopedic shoemaking, and attend workshops, conferences, and seminars to expand your knowledge and skills. Seek feedback from peers and clients to continually refine your craft.

Formal Education
While formal education is not mandatory to become an orthopedic shoemaker, it is more common in this subfield of shoemaking than in any other.

Aspiring orthopedic shoemakers who elect to undertake formal training in their field often become certified pedorthists. Pedorthists are certified medical professionals who are trained to design, repair, and modify devices for patients, that prevent abnormalities or even disabling conditions of the lower limbs, feet, or ankles. They may design a wide variety of footwear and devices depending on patients’ needs. These devices may include ankle supports, lifts, inserts, walking shoes, hosiery, night splints, surgical boots, arch supports, and custom-made shoes.

To become a pedorthist in the US, one must hold at least an associate degree in a science or a healthcare field, and be licensed in pedorthics by the state in which they wish to practise. Licensure is contingent on passing a state administered examination from the American Board for Certification (ABC) in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics.

While state requirements vary, most students will have to gain a certain number of hours of applied experience as an intern or apprentice alongside a certified pedorthist before qualifying to take the state exam. Once they receive their certification and license, they are ready to work for a private clinic or physician. Internships often turn into full-time positions.

The pedorthics certificate must be renewed every few years according to state regulations.

Pedorthists are qualified to:

• Examine a doctor’s prescription and discuss it with a patient, before designing and manufacturing therapeutic footwear or orthotics to treat the problem
• Accurately and efficiently design footwear items which may include orthotics, shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, socks, hosiery, night splints, bandages, braces, partial-foot prostheses, or other devices
• Use computerized techniques to design and create three-dimensional models for specialized footwear instead of the traditional methods of model creation
• Instruct patients on the proper use of customized orthotics, answering questions patients might have and referring certain queries to others on the medical staff
• Conduct follow-up visits to monitor the patient’s progress and correct usage, and gauge how well suited the footwear is for treating the problem

Prospective orthopedic shoemakers who do not become certified pedorthists or study orthotics and prosthetics may opt to pursue a broader shoemaking education, one that is not specific to orthopedic shoemaking.

Many schools and workshops around the world offer courses and programs focused on shoemaking. These educational institutions provide hands-on training, covering various aspects of the craft, including pattern making, cutting, stitching, lasting, and finishing.

Some renowned schools include Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, Ars Sutoria in Milan, and the Shoe College / Université des Chaussures in New Orleans. Programs may range from a few weeks to several months in duration.

Below is an overview of the course units which comprise the Bachelor’s Degree (Honors) Cordwainers Footwear program, which runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. The program is divided into three stages over three academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks.

Stage 1

• Introduction to Footwear
• Product Design and Technologies
• Product Creativity
• Better Lives
• Fashion Cultures and Histories

Stage 2

• Professional Practice
• Critical Issues in Fashion Research
• Creative Design
• Industry Project

Stage 3

• Concept Vision
• Contextualizing Your Practice
• Concept Realization

On successful completion of Stage 2 students are offered the option of a professional placement leading to an extra qualification, the Diploma in Professional Studies.

The Diploma year is a single unit, undertaken as a form of full time study, with placement activity at its core. For those who take up the option of studying the Diploma, the experience is designed to be an integrated and assessed part of a student’s journey through the course. It allows students the opportunity to experience the atmosphere, pace, and discipline of working in the industry, through total involvement in the day-to-day activities of a company. It will build on the knowledge gathered through course work to practically demonstrate the roles and functions, and operations typical of the fashion industry and the student’s chosen specialism.

Professional Organizations
The following organizations cater to orthopedic shoemakers and related professionals, providing platforms for networking, advocacy, professional development, and sharing knowledge and resources:

• Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA)
• American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA)
• International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO)

These organizations support the broader shoemaking community:

• City & Guilds, a UK-based organization, offers certifications in shoemaking through their Leather -Production and Craftsmanship program. These certifications cover various aspects of shoemaking, including pattern cutting, closing, and finishing.
• The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, a livery company in the City of London, UK, has a long-standing history and tradition associated with the shoemaking craft. The company gets its name from ‘cordwain,’ the white leather produced from goatskin in Cordova, Spain.
• The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) is a trade association representing the footwear industry in the United States. It brings together footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
• World Footwear is an international platform that provides information and news about the global footwear industry. It addresses various aspects of the industry, including manufacturing, retail, trade, and sustainability.
• The British Footwear Association is a trade association based in the United Kingdom, representing manufacturers, designers, and suppliers in the footwear industry.
• The Society of Shoemakers of New York is a non-profit organization which aims to promote the art and craft of shoemaking, preserve the heritage of shoemaking skills, and provide a collaboration platform for shoemakers.
• The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is an employer led organization that supports technical education and apprenticeships in the United Kingdom.