Where to learn the craft of shoemaking

If we had charged for every email that comes in asking "where can I learn how to make shoes?", we will be very rich by now.

Not only do we get emails like this, we also get questions on how to go about starting a shoe business. I think personally, we are still figuring this out but it's nice to know that people think enough of GlamRockChic to ask. However, it would also be nice for some people to say thank you when they receive our long, detailed replies :-(

So we will dedicate some time here to answer some questions. One of them is where can I learn to make shoes in Malaysia?

Frankly, go overseas to learn! You'll come back more exposed and learned. But if u don't have the cash, there is this INSEP footwear program that was spearheaded by the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association (MFMA) and the government to increase our youth's industrial skills, esp in footwear.

Read about it here  

Sorry, this is the only best thing I could find which explains it. They don't even have an official website, hmph.

Check out their FB page here 

I had been quite interested in participating in this 2 years ago, but alas, there is an age group limitation. 28 years and below. Why? I don't really know, maybe because it's targeted to youths and to increase their interest in a dying trend of hand made shoes vs machine churned shoes.

Frankly, i think it sounds ageist. I think it should be about people's interest and motivation, not about the age. Perhaps the government just want young people to replace the old masters who will not have the strength one day to make shoes anymore. I can understand that it's hard to find young people who want to spend all day in a shoe filled factory, cutting, glueing, lasting, skiving, etc for low pay and that's why the Manufacturer's Association is hoping to do something to address this so that they can continue to get young blood to support their manufacturing business.

Do check them out anyway, it's a paid for thing by the government for the duration of 8 months and you must then commit to working in a factory or shoe company they assign you to. So unless you are really interested to last shoes everyday till your hands bleed (have you seen the hands of master shoemakers? forget manicures ladies), don't join just to learn the craft for fun. It's not like a beading or silver smithing  or art class where you come, have fun as and when you like. Join only if you really love the art and craftsmanship of hand made shoes and want to hone your skill in it.