Start Making Shoes
Shoemaking Instruction
Online Courses
Are you ready to supercharge your footwear career? Unlock your full potential with the Shoemakers Academy’s online courses. Gain complete access to our extensive catalog, featuring 180 shoemaking lessons and over 60 hours of expert video instruction from none other than “The Shoe Dog” himself. Grab the All Access Pass and fast-track your way to business success in the exciting world of footwear!
What people are saying
Feedback
"Everything you'll ever need in one stop! Better than going to school and I'm enjoying how practical it is for a visual person like me. Also, I don't feel alone now that I have a friend in Wade for guidance and support on this journey. I'm truly grateful!!!"
Refelwe T.
Brand Builder
“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 sandal brand in 2020. We went from an idea to actual samples in 6 weeks. We shipped our first ocean container after only 5 months and our brand is a huge hit and growing bigger every year.”
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
Meet Our Founder and Lead Instructor
"The Shoe Dog"
Wade Motawi, a veteran shoe designer with 30 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 manager, advanced technology group manager, footwear buyer, business development manager, 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.
Wade Motawi
The Top Dog & Your InstructorCorporate Training
Our modern footwear courses provide your team with in-depth instruction detailing the Shoemaking Process from Design to Development to Mass Production.
Your team can choose OnDemand Video Lectures, Live Zoom Sessions or Schedule In-person instruction with our teachers.
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
Our courses and coaching provide your team with in-depth instruction detailing shoemaking from design to development to mass production.
Choose OnDemand video lectures, live Zoom sessions, or schedule in-person instruction with our professionals.
Shoemakers Academy has everything to fast track your shoemaking skills. Textbooks, eBooks, hand tools, shoe materials, and more.
Textbooks & Tools
Shoemaking Store
Ready to kickstart your footwear business journey? Look no further than the Pro-pack! The ultimate resource to break through barriers to your success in the industry. Get ready to demolish the roadblocks holding you back. The Pro-Pack delivers the critical information you need. Bundle up and save big.
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Sale!
How Shoes are Made
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Footwear Pattern Making and Last Design
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Shoe Material Design Guide
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Start Your Own Shoe Company
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Sale!
How Shoes are Made
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Footwear Pattern Making and Last Design
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Shoe Material Design Guide
$29.99 – $59.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Sale!
Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Reg. Price – Sale Price$99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Classic Basketball 80’s Style Outsole
Reg. Price – Sale Price$35 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Classic Basketball Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Reg. Price – Sale Price$99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Classic Basketball Style Lasts
Reg. Price – Sale Price$79.99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Sale!
Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Reg. Price – Sale Price$99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Classic Basketball 80’s Style Outsole
Reg. Price – Sale Price$35 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Sale!
Classic Basketball Shoe Last + Outsole Shoemaking Kit
Reg. Price – Sale Price$99 Add to Cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Schools Using Our Course Materials
Where to Find Us
Shoemaking Articles
Blog
DIY Shoemaking: Board Lasting Part 2 Outsole Bonding
Board Lasting Part 2: Outsole bonding https://vimeo.com/1061409928 The outsole bonding process, commonly referred to as “outsole cementing,” is a crucial step in shoemaking that involves attaching the shoe’s upper to
DIY Shoemaking: How to board last a shoe
Board Lasting Shoes Part 1 https://vimeo.com/1061402389 Board lasting is a traditional shoemaking technique where a firm insole board—often made of fiberboard or Texon—is attached to the shoe’s upper before the
How to Make Quilted Sneakers
The Perfect Kits for Quilted Sneakers A Must-Have for DIY Shoemakers If you love quilting and sneakers, why not combine the two? Quilted sneakers are a fun and stylish way
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, brand building and manufacturing. Bring your questions and challenges! See our schedule of upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
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