Must say I’m more than a wee bit excited that Louise wants to hand-on her bespoke shoe-making skills…there is nothing more I’d love to do than make my own footwear!

It’s Dunedin-based artisan shoemaker Louise Clifton’s dream to enliven the art of shoemaking in New Zealand by inspiring, engaging and educating future shoemakers. In 2013 she will be running a series of workshops and lectures in leather footwear and accessories around New Zealand.

Amazingly, there are no shoemaking schools in New Zealand. Aspiring shoemakers have to venture offshore as she did – to Australia, or further. Louise is passionate about shoemaking in New Zealand. Shoemaking tuition would not only enrich individuals, but would also benefit local theatre and film industries, tourism, tertiary institutions and design and manufacturing industries.

And now Louise is back in Dunedin equipped with the know-how to graduate as a fully-fledged bespoke shoemaker – and she wants to share these skills! But first she need the tools and materials to be able to do so.

To help realise her project Louise has begun a crowdfunding campaign. The budget for this project is $1700.00. The campaign is open now and closes Monday24th September at 6pm. With the donations she will buy the leather, glue, soling, and tools such as punches, awls and lasting pliers needed to gully equip her studio so that she may inspire, engage and educate others. And there’s rewards for those that pledge!