Shoe Business Masterclass
Online shoemaking courses for shoe designers, footwear developers, and brand builders.
Learn modern footwear manufacturing techniques.
Advance your career in the shoe trade. Launch your shoe brand.
Learn modern footwear manufacturing techniques.
Advance your career in the shoe trade. Launch your shoe brand.
Shoe Business Masterclass
Online shoemaking courses
for all levels of shoe designers, developers, and brand builders.
Learn modern footwear manufacturing techniques.
Shoemaking Instruction
Online Courses
Shoemaking Instruction
Online Courses
Creating Footwear Specifications
- 9 Lessons
How to Select Shoe Materials
- 14 Lessons
What people are saying
Feedback

“Wade is a great teacher. The courses are easy to understand and he delivers his deep shoemaking knowledge with interesting personal anecdotes.”
Jose R.
Footwear Developer

"The Shoe Dog and his team helped us launch our brand. We went from an idea to actual samples in 6 weeks. We shipped our first ocean container after only 5 months and our product is a huge hit after our first year of sales.”
Andrea S.
Brand Owner

“I finally understand how all the pieces of shoemaking come together – it’s like I was right inside the shoe factory."
Jim R.
Future Shoe Designer

"I've read your content and it's fantastic. It's for sure the most thorough content on footwear creation, it's very applicable and it's very exciting that you are developing videos from it."
Dan C.
Founder, Laceless Design
Wade Motawi, "The Shoe Dog"
Meet Our Founder and Lead Instructor
Wade Motawi, a veteran shoe designer with over 25 years of experience, began his career in 1995 by traveling to shoe factories in Asia to study and document shoemaking techniques. He later led teams of footwear designers and developers on training missions to these same factories.
Throughout his career, he has held various roles including designer, developer, product line manager, development group manager, advanced technology group manager, footwear buyer, sourcing manager, and consultant. He has also lived and worked extensively in the far east.
In addition to designing shoes, Wade has also written several highly rated books on the subject of modern shoemaking and founded Shoemakers Academy to share his expertise with others.
Corporate Training

Level Up Your Team
Our modern footwear courses provide your team with in-depth instruction detailing the Shoemaking Process from Design to Development to Mass Production.

Zoom & In person
Your team can choose OnDemand Video Lectures, Live Zoom Sessions or Schedule In-person instruction with our teachers.

Books & Materials
The Shoemakers Academy offers everything you need to jump start your shoemaking education. Text books, hand tools and shoe materials for our students are in-stock now.

Private Coaching and Corporate Training

Level Up Your Team
Our courses and coaching provide your team with in-depth instruction detailing shoemaking from design to development to mass production.

Zoom & In Person
Choose OnDemand video lectures, live Zoom sessions, or schedule in-person instruction with our professionals.

Textbooks & Materials
Shoemakers Academy has everything to fast track your shoemaking skills. Textbooks, eBooks, hand tools, shoe materials, and more.
Textbooks & Tools
Shoemaking Store
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Sale!
How Shoes are Made
Rated 4.78 out of 5$19.99 – $49.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Footwear Pattern Making and Last Design
Rated 5.00 out of 5$19.99 – $49.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Shoe Material Design Guide
Rated 5.00 out of 5$19.99 – $49.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Start Your Own Shoe Company
Rated 5.00 out of 5$19.99 – $49.99 Add to Cart
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Sale!
Shoemaking Material DIY Super Kit
Rated 5.00 out of 5Reg. Price$279 – Sale Price$199 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Beginners Footwear Pattern Making Kit
Rated 5.00 out of 5Reg. Price$169.99 – Sale Price$149.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Rated 4.60 out of 5Reg. Price$119.99 – Sale Price$99.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Shoe Last For DIY Shoemaking
Rated 5.00 out of 5Reg. Price$99.99 – Sale Price$79.99 Add to Cart
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Sale!
Shoemaking Material DIY Super Kit
Rated 5.00 out of 5Reg. Price$279 – Sale Price$199 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Beginners Footwear Pattern Making Kit
Rated 5.00 out of 5Reg. Price$169.99 – Sale Price$149.99 Add to Cart -
Sale!
Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Rated 4.60 out of 5Reg. Price$119.99 – Sale Price$99.99 Add to Cart
Schools Using Our Course Materials
Where to Find Us






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Shoemaking Articles
Blog
Online Shoemaking Course Finder: 7-Point Checklist
Finding the right shoemaking course for YOU is challenging. Attending an in-person footwear course may not be possible if you are a working professional or a student living at home.
What is the Shoemakers Academy?
The New Online Shoemaking Resource Shoemakers Academy is an online resource for individuals looking to expand their skills and knowledge in the footwear industry. The website offers a variety of
Footwear Manufacturing Skill Builder : How to Select Shoe Materials
How to Select Shoe Materials Build Your Skills! Articles, Textbooks, Online Video Classes Selecting suitable materials for your shoe designs is very important. Your material choices determine the look, quality,
What kind of shoemaker are you?
A quiz about YOU! To make your shoemaking journey easier, please tell us a bit about YOU and your biggest challenges as a shoemaker. We can help. Take the 30-second About YOU discovery quiz.
Your shoemaking questions answered.
We provide both basic and advanced shoemaking knowledge. Every day we receive shoemaking questions from our friends around the world. Here are our best answers to your most frequently asked shoemaking questions.
Fast Track Shoemaking
Live Events
The Shoemakers Academy hosts live and virtual events to meet Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog,” and our other instructors. Our shoemaking events cover footwear design, development, and manufacturing. Bring your questions and challenges! See our schedule of upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
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