The Footwear Design & Technology School of SA

02/03/2026

Welcome to the page where the elite handbag and shoedesigners come for training.

28/02/2026

To all my followers. I would like to announce a major change in my way forward. I have come to a time in my life where I no longer desire to train people in large groups. I have found that the new generations of students have no commitment and deep desire to be shoemakers and craftsmen. There is therefore no space for the Footwear Design School in South Africa.

The time has come to close the school and move on. I have settled in a lovely countryside nature conservancy outside Pretoria and decided to focus on a select few students and have created Versed in Leather.

I now screen my students strictly and only take in those I believe have the commitment to follow through. From my past experience I know what they look like.

I will still maintain the online learning which I will be changing dramatically by offering practical shoemaking via correspondence.

Looking forward to the new journey.

18/12/2025

https://youtu.be/g1KWyHkXDwY?si=XVVBQ_5wOIt4vzAe

Learn to draw a classical shoe last.

A shoe last is the form around which shoes are made. This determines the toe shape, heel height, fitting and size.

The classical shoe last's toe is 11mm longer than the toes at the front. This is called toe extension.

Sandal lasts do not have so much extension and some lastmakers will add 0mm to 3mm for sandals instead of the 1mm as in shoes

In fashion lasts this toe can be extended more to create different toe shapes.

To become a shoe designer it is critical that you are able to draw the classical last shape accurately and in proportion. Once you master and understand this you can start changing the toes as needed.

When we design a shoe, we design it around this last shape.

This is how you sketch a last from the side. before doing this you will need to know the point and areas on the shoe last.

14/11/2025

WE HAVE HAVE HAD SOME REQUESTS THAT WE OFFER A WEDNESDAY EVENING COURSE IN JOHANNESBURG !!

ARE YOU INTERESTED LET US KNOW IN WHAT AREA via whatsapp

click here: https://wa.me/+27660060691

ROSEBANK or KEMPTON PARK or EDENVALE

13/11/2025

Join our part-time Footwear & Handbag Design Courses in Woodstock CAPE TOWN.
It includes Fusion CAD and Vizcom free for a year. Two Saturdays a month

Handbag Design course: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em_16YZjkzcFvKMRWrczK3P9GXce6FFz/view?usp=sharing

Technical Footwear Design Course. : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5wl0IRkVUErRwfzDDTDCZF9sp3XBS2_/view?usp=sharing

13/11/2025

We are back in CAPE TOWN !!!!😁. Ex students are welcome to attend the courses free of charge to catch up. Thats just the way we roll !!

In conjunction with Italtan the supplier of all our exotic materials form Italy as well as a selection of other materials we are hosting it at their venue in Brickfield road , Woodstock.

Choose Italtan Leather as your preferred supplier of genuine leather products in South Africa. We import the finest Italian leathers and offer competitive pricing.

09/11/2025

Stunning. Wow ypur skills have improved considerably. Proud of you.

Handstitched Chicago Pink pencil bag, can hold at least 3 pens - R120

07/11/2025

Great news.
We are making majour changes to the school.
1. Our new brand
2. Our courses are much cheaper and completely restructured.
3. Cape Town courses in both handbags and footwear will be available in 2026
4. Durban courses will also be available.
5 We are moving into a better venue in Pretoria. Same address.

We will keep you updated with the new info, in this coming week.

Our new Logo. Do you like it?

28/09/2025

Please support our students.

20/09/2025

awesome . 😁

18/07/2025

https://www.youtube.com/ join our youtube channel. You can learn everything for free!!

Please subscribe as only subscribers will get access to our special perks.
DESIGN:
I will continually load videos so please be patient and grow with us. We will load all the processes from learning to draw to 3D animation.
PATTERNS:
From basic patterns to complex production patterns and grading and CAD.
SHOEMAKING:
From basic quick hand made shoe projects to complex mass production.

It will all be there for our subscribers.

ABOUT ME: My Name is Glyn Giani. I have over 40 years experience in Fashion design and footwear. I have qualification in footwear, footwear materials technology, and also footwear design from the best school in Italy and have worked with some of the best brands in the world like Bally of Switzerland...