The Footwear Design & Technology School of SA

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.

18/12/2025

🎓 WIN A FOOTWEAR DESIGN COURSE – FEB 2026

Serious about footwear design — not just fashion, but real design skill?

We’re giving away a full course scholarship for our February 2026 intake through a two-stage skill-based design challenge.

HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS
STAGE 1 – LAST SKETCH CHALLENGE

Watch our free step-by-step video showing how to correctly sketch the side profile of a footwear last

Submit three clean, detailed pencil sketches:

Low heel last

Mid heel last

High heel last

Include a short written prompt explaining how you would render a shoe design using Vizcom.ai

🎥 Watch the free lesson:
https://youtu.be/g1KWyHkXDwY?si=XVVBQ_5wOIt4vzAe

👉 Submit Stage 1 entries here:
https://forms.gle/TBSf165A4G8biq1H7

📅 Stage 1 closes: 27 December 2025

STAGE 2 – FINALIST SHOE DESIGN

We will shortlist the 10 strongest entries from Stage 1

Finalists will be asked to submit:

A clean pencil shoe design on the last

A clear Vizcom.ai prompt describing the design

👉 The School will render the final designs using the prompts provided, ensuring consistent quality.

📅 Finalist submissions close: 10 January 2026

FINAL VOTING & WINNER

Rendered designs will be posted for public voting

Public votes contribute 30%

Technical judging contributes 70%

Winner announced 18 January 2026

WHAT YOU CAN WIN

🥇 1st Place:
Full course scholarship for Feb 2026 (choose ONE):

AI Footwear Design with Vizcom.ai (Cape Town or Johannesburg)

Full-time Technical Footwear Design (Pretoria)

Part-time Technical Footwear Design (Durban)

🥈 2nd Place:
Make-a-Shoe Workshop (Pretoria only)

🔗 Full Terms & Conditions:
https://www.shoedesign.co.za/terms_and_conditions

📌 This competition is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Facebook, Meta, or Vizcom.ai.

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...