workshop
All the shoes you see on this site were hand-made by Ruslan in his shop in New York. He uses Old World techniques to create custom-fit shoes for clients who are looking for something special, distinctive, or impossible to find elsewhere. Here is a glimpse of how he works:
Ruslan cuts the leather from a pattern he's created for a pair of men's shoes.
Preparing the backing for the seams of the uppers. This ensures a smooth finish at the seams.
Using a special machine to smooth the edges of the leather on the uppers.
Sewing the pieces together to create the uppers.
Ruslan uses different sewing machines for different styles and materials.
Ruslan creates a special mold for every custom shoe he makes. It must be the same shape as the client's foot, but also it has to conform to the height of the heel and the shape of the shoe's toe box. These molds are for men's shoes and a lady's high heeled shoe.
Ruslan shapes the upper around the mold.
Ruslan attaches the sole to the shoe.
For the finishing touch, Ruslan uses a special machine to finish the edges of the soles and heels.