Joseph Curle

My name’s Joseph, I’m a completely self-taught shoemaker. Nice to meet you! Whilst hazily quarantining with Covid, I watched a video of Amara Hark Weber making a pair of bespoke Oxfords and, on a whim, ordered a pair of lasts on eBay. I’d been following Helen Kirkum, so I tore apart an old pair of Dr. Martens and two pairs of Vans. With no pattern, I stitched uppers on a HobbyCraft sewing machine, lasted them with needle-nose pliers and attached the soles with a hot glue gun. Surprisingly, they survived a trip to the pub. Later, whilst I was studying in Geneva, a friend taught me to use an industrial sewing machine. Over a year I made about fifteen pairs of shoes, working with upholstery leather I reclaimed from Swiss décharges. One pair of mules made it all around India with me. On returning to the UK, without the industrial machine, I bought pricking irons and took up hand stitching. I made a pair of dog walking boots for a friend; bags for a few others. The concept for an unlined, heavy-weight leather derby had been percolating for awhile and I made the first prototype during paternity leave, 9 months ago, when my son was born. The second was a gift for my partner, and the third is this entry (destined for a pal in Liverpool). Someone once told me that if you can make shoes then you can make anything. I find inspiration in that sentiment.