Welcome to the Shoemakers Academy Live Event Archives. Check here for replays of our recent events.
Wade and Erik Gavica Help folks with DIY projects Q&A Event #1
(4/06/2024, 1:30 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and LA custom shoemaker Erik Gavica answer questions. The crews enjoys a discussion of common DIY shoemaking techniques and challenges.
Topics include:
LA Shoe School
Where to find good shoemaking leather.
What is in the DIY parts kit.
Lasting operations
Wade and Erik Gavica Help folks with DIY projects Q&A Event #2
(4/04/2024, 1:30 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and LA custom shoemaker Erik Gavica answer questions. The crews enjoys a discussion of common DIY shoemaking techniques and challenges.
Topics include:
LA Shoe School
Where to find good shoemaking leather.
What is in the DIY parts kit.
Lasting operations
DIY Home Shoemaking for Beginners AMA Event #1
(1/26/2024, 1:04 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and Shoe Making DIY AMA session regulars enjoy a discussion of common DIY shoemaking techniques and challenges.
Topics include:
Where to find good shoemaking leather.
What is in the DIY parts kit.
Lasting operations
Upcoming Portland Shoe Material ShoW
DIY Home Shoemaking for Beginners AMA Event #2
(1/23/2024, 1:20 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and Shoe Making DIY AMA session regulars enjoy a discussion of common DIY shoemaking techniques and challenges.
Topics include:
Where to find good shoemaking leather.
What is in the DIY parts kit.
Lasting operations
Upcoming Portland Shoe Material Sho
How To Start A Shoe Company AMA Event
(1/13/2024, 1:36 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoy discussion on the subject of footwear brand building and planning your start-ups. Critical information you need for getting your shoe business started!
Topics include:
Creating a shoe business plan
Shoe Business start-up costs
Hiring a designer to help you
Upcoming Portland Shoe Material Show.
How To Start A Shoe Company AMA Event
(1/11/2024, 1:11 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoy discussion on the subject of footwear brand building and planning your start-ups. Special guest, Designer Franck Boistel joins the crew.
Topics include:
Creating a shoe business plan
Shoe Business start-up costs
Hiring a designer to help you
Upcoming Portland Shoe Material Show.
Shoe Sole Tooling Factory Tour
(1/12/2024, 45 min)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” Tours two outsole factories in China.
Topics include:
Creating shoe sole models
Rubber mixing and sole pressing
Sole tooling manufacturing
Outsole tooling costs
Factory processes and equipment
How to Design Vulcanized Shoes AMA Event
(9/21/2023, 1:04 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” explains the hows and whys of Vulcanized shoe design and construction. We review tooling requirements and correct material choices.
Topics include:
All Access Pass discounts! $999
Vulcanized shoes construction options.
Material choices for vulcanized shoes.
$50 COURSE CASH CODE: SMAEM50
Footwear Logo Design AMA Event
(9/17/2023, 1:04 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoy discussion on the subject of footwear logo design. Logo functions, Logo strategy for big brands and small brands.
Topics include:
Cost of logos
Types of footwear logos
Logo function and logo strategy
Footwear Production Development and Tooling Costs AMA Event
(9/08/2023, 1:39 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoy discussion on the subject of footwear production tooling, design, development, and costing. Special VIP Mystery Guest footwear designer joins the conversation!
Topics include:
Cost and timing of last development
Mold prices for IMEVA and CMEVA
Finding Investors to help with tooling costs
Is sustainability too expensive?
Set-up costs for a new brand.
Sustainability in Footwear AMA Event (6/08/2023, 1:00 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoy discussion on the subject of sustainability in the design, development, and production of footwear.
Topics include:
How to market sustainable shoes
Footwear product performance and sustainability
Footwear Sustainability Questions and Roadblocks
Is sustainability too expensive?
Shoe Construction AMA #1 (6/08/2023, 1:15 hr)
Wade Motawi, “The Shoe Dog” and AMA session regulars enjoyed a lively and wide-ranging footwear discussion. Sorry Audio quality of the recording is just “okay.”
Topics covered include:
Set up of the ShoeMakers Academy Facebook group TBA
Strobel and board lasting
DIY Air Jordan construction processing
High heel shoe construction
What is a toe puff
Where Can I get Super-Tuff
Hand sewing strobel shoes
Shoe Material Design Guide Textbook.
Get Started in the Shoe Business #1 (6/08/2023, 1:15 hr)
Especially for beginner shoemakers, designers, and brand builders like you!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi, presents and delivers valuable insights and expertise on how to get started in the footwear industry. Wade answers questions from design students, brand entrepreneurs, and shoemaking beginners.
Introductory pricing is available now. Enroll today!
Especially for beginner shoemakers, designers, and brand builders like you!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi, presents and delivers valuable insights and expertise on how to get started in the footwear industry. Wade answers questions from design students, brand entrepreneurs, and shoemaking beginners.Introductory pricing is available now. Enroll today!
Especially for beginner shoemakers, designers, and brand builders like you!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi, presents and delivers valuable insights and expertise on how to get started in the footwear industry. Wade answers questions from design students, brand entrepreneurs, and shoemaking beginners.Introductory pricing is available now. Enroll today!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi, presents and previews the course Sustainability Strategies for Footwear.
Questions Include:
Sustainability Strategies for Footwear Course
Introductory pricing is available now. Enroll today!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi, presents and previews the course Sustainability Strategies for Footwear.
Questions Include:
Are there options for Vegan Leather?
Sustainability Strategies for Footwear Course
Introductory pricing is available now. Enroll today!
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi answers shoe business start-up questions live on Zoom with shoemakers around the world. 1.5 hrs
How do I create a new design to build my brand?
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi answers shoe business start-up questions live on Zoom with shoemakers around the world. 1.5 hrs
Start Your Own Shoe Company AMA #2 (3/9/2023, 1.5 hrs)
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi answers shoe business start-up questions live on Zoom with shoemakers around the world. 1.5 hrs
Questions Include:
What is the best way to get my shoe design prototype made?
What shoe soles may already be available at a factory?
Do you have advice on how to source soles for samples?
How can I get small factory runs for my shoe design?
How do you determine the best way to set the cost for shoes?
What’s the best method for shipping shoes?
How many shoes should you manufacture when starting out?
What about shoe factories in US or Italy?
Is China still safe for making shoes?
Where is the best place to get lasts for kids shoes?
Can I get a discount code to purchase the All Access Pass?
Yes! Use code AMA100 at checkout to save $100 on the All Access Pass.
Behind-the-scenes introductory video –>
Meet “The Shoe Dog” and peek inside a video lesson. See how to choose an online course, how to enroll, purchase, and start your course. You’ll learn how to access your personal dashboard for all your course video lessons, downloadable textbooks, and materials.
Additional FAQs on online courses and materials can be found here.
Start Your Own Shoe Company AMA # 1 (3/11/2023, 1 hr.)
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi answers shoe business start-up questions live on Zoom with shoe makers around the world.
Questions Include:
What’s the best sneaker-designing platform you recommend to anyone?
Any recommendations for shoe making and design school one can attend?
Is there a directory of standards to put into our shoe designs?
What inspired you to design shoes?
Where do you buy the best fabric?
What are the 3 main components of running a shoe company?
What’s the fastest way to get your product out there?
Any recommendations to improve my shoe illustration and my 3D drawing techniques?
Can I get a discount code to purchase the All Access Pass discount code? Yes! Use code AMA100 at checkout to save $100 on the All Access Pass.
Shoe Material Q&A for Footwear Designers and Brand Builders (January 2023, 1.5 hrs.)
“The Shoe Dog,” Wade Motawi answers shoe material questions live on Zoom with shoemakers around the world.
Questions Include:
Is there a such material as tumbled suede/nubuck?
What’s your opinion on Nike’s ReGrind shoe sole technology?
What material does Nike use to make outsoles?
Thoughts on cork as a material for sock liners/footbeds?
Do you think the Yeezy sneakers are in general overpriced?
What is the manufacturing cost difference between foam-molded sneakers
vs. traditional multipart sneakers?
Are polymer shoes without lining harmful to skin and foot health?