Welting- and Stitching Awl
These tools are required for piercing the insole in order to sew the welt
and stitch the welt so as to attach the sole.
Shoemaker´s Hammer
The hammer has a mushroom-shaped face and a flat cross pane.
It is used for driving nails and for consolidating and shaping leather.
St. Hugh´s Bone
This tool is made from bone and boxwood.
It is used for shaping, smoothing, flattening and polishing.
Broken Pieces of Glass
The glass is scratched and cracked quickly.
The sharp and slightly rounded edge is used for
trimming and plaining edges and surfaces.
Inks and Elixirs
These are used for nourishing the leather and treating the surface.
Old recipes give the shoes a wonderful patina and make them durable.
Spirit Lamp with Edge Iron
With the lamp, different irons are heated to a certain
temperature to burn waxes in the sole and heel edges.
Waist Iron
This tool shapes the sole edge between forepart and the heel.
The appearance there is thinner and more elegant: The beveled waist.
Seat Wheel
Having been heated, the tool is run round the seat of the heel
in order to set the edge and at the same time to produce
decorative marking on the seat.
Shoe Pincer
The pincer is used for extracting
nails and to pinch off nail heads.
Lasting Pincer
Pincer and hammer in one tool. The upper(leather) is pulled
over the last and tacks are driven in to hold it in position.
Pegging Awl
Used for boring holes in the sole and heel
to take wooden pegs inserted as a means of attachment.
Wooden Pegs
They have pyramidal points and are driven
in the holes with one precise hammer blow.
Hemp and Flax thread
Hemp and flax fibers are used to make the hand sewing thread
in the desired thickness. Pitch and wax is rubbed in.
Pitch
Pitch is cooked wood resin and is also known as colophony.
With oil and tar it achieves the perfect consistency for sticking the
fibres together and making them durable.
Edge Irons and Burnishing Tools
The heated tools have the useful purpose of sealing the fibers against water and so preserving the shape and appearance of the bottom.
Address
Patrick Frei Maßschuhe
Ferdinand-Weiss-Str. 9–11
D-79106 Freiburg
Tel: +49 761 2177030
patrick@freischuhe.de
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Afternoons und Saturdays
by appointment
Thanks
Eckart Schadt was the Creative Director of this site.
Andreas Berenz acted as programmer.
All photographs were taken by Andreas Lörcher.
World Champion in shoemaking
I am proud to have won the World Championships in shoemaking in London 2018
The shoe will be showcased at these locations:
May 7-20----------Leffot NY---New York, USA
May 28-June 10----Leffot Chicago---Chicago, USA
June 18-July1------Kevin Seah---Singapore
July 9-22----------Unipair---Seoul, South Korea
July 30-Aug 12----Medallion Shoes---Beijing, China
Aug 20-Sept 2----Prologue---Hong Kong
Sept 10-23--------Skoaktiebolaget---Stockholm, Sweden
October 1-14------Isetan Men’s---Tokyo, Japan
Oct 22-Nov 4-----Skomaker Dagestad---Oslo, Norway
Nov 12-25---------Brogue Shoes---Geneva, Switzerland
Workshop Impressions
On the next few pages you can take a look around in my workshop and get an impression of how I work.
After the pictures of the workshop you will find images taken from my antiquarian library. Clicking on “Antiquarian” will take you straight there.
Use the arrows in the frame to flick through. On touch screens, just swipe to proceed.
Three steps to the bespoke shoe
Anyone whose feet make their way into my workshop joins me in delving into the world of shoes. It is there that we develop an individual pair or even a personal collection. Footwear that fits its wearer perfectly, expresses his or her very own style, and envelops his or her feet as if the shoes were a second skin.
No fewer than three appointments with the customer are required for this. On the next few pages you can find out all about the process.
Use the arrows in the frame to flick through. On the touchscreens you can simply swipe to move on.
The shoemaker and his perspective
In my Freiburg workshop, I revive age-old knowledge of the art of shoemaking. Pure craftsmanship produces loyal companions in the style of the great masters. With abundant passion if not a touch of obsession, in my workshop I realize my own dreams and those of my clients.
On the next few pages you can find out more about what I stand for and what makes a bespoke shoe.
Use the arrows in the frame to flick through. On the touchscreens, you can simply swipe to move on.
