Still in a daze after our whirlwind exploration of Lineapelle, we headed back to the factory to work on the prototypes of the new shoes, which the leathers we selected will be used on. I don’t like to end sentences with prepositions but I couldn’t quite figure out how to word that first sentence any other way.  My apologies to the grammar people reading this (I’m including myself in this category).  Back to the shoes . . . .

This is a shoe last:

Julie Lopez Last

More specifically, it’s OUR last. Made just for Julie Lopez, to our own specifications and requirements. It’s the mold that the factory uses to make each shoe, so there are multiple lasts, depending on the style of the shoe. There are lasts for open toe shoes, closed toe shoes, flats, lower heels, higher heels, and everything in between.

Wait? Lower heels? Flats? Open toe shoes?

Yes, you read right. Get ready. That classic pump you all know and love was just the beginning.

The last is then used to make prototypes, which is where the factory works on the design of the shoe, but uses whatever spare material they have laying around. The prototype phase is all about the design and function of the shoe; the looks part comes a bit later.

Julie Lopez Prototype on the Last

Here’s that same last, but now you can see the prototype being fitted on it. (PS- This is also a sneak peek at some of our new styles. What do you think?)

The last step in this process is the fitting, shown here being done by yours truly:

Erin trying on the prototypes

I try on the prototypes, the guys from the factory tweak and tweak and tape (as you can see in the prototype on the last pic) and tweak and tape some more, then they go and create a new prototype while we sip espresso and wait, I try the new prototypes on, more tweaking, and the process repeats itself multiple times until we finally reach The Perfect Fit. (Also, side note, I’m wearing two different styles in the picture above, if you’re like me and looked at the picture and thought “that’s not the same shoe!”)

It’s a very collaborative process, and we’re so thankful to our factory guys for being as big of perfectionists as we are- they too realize that the fit of this shoe is just as important as how it looks.

And now we’re in the sample stage- we’ve selected our leathers and finalized our prototypes, so now the factory is making samples of every shoe for us to go out and start showing to stores later this summer. But before we hit the stores there are catalogs to be made, photos to be taken . . . I need a glass of wine just thinking about it.

Happy Monday Everyone!

- Erin