How to make my own pair of Red Wings

In 2017, one of my wishes came through. I'm always interested in other related leathercraft skills and it was one of my goals to make a pair of shoes in a traditional way. I was glad I got the opportunity to follow a private education from shoemaker Jelske Peterson. In a 40 hour course she teached me step by step to make my own pair of shoes, based on my favorite pair of Red Wings Heritage Iron Ranger.

The leather used for these shoes I got from ECCO Leather and it is a black Camel leather. I used the flesh side outside, so the shoes has a nice gray nubuck look. The soles are from Dr. Sole Taiwan and are the same nitro cork soles used underneath the original shoes. Without the skilled hands of Jelske I never succeed. It was quite a difficult job but I'm so happy with the result.

From the outside you won't see that there are so many steps needed to make a pair of shoes. Therefore I make this visual story 'The making of my own pair of Red Wings'