Making boot uppers from a patchwork of leathers, fabrics, braids and leather images has become one of our signature design techniques. It started back in 2009 when we were asked to design and make nine pairs of boots for Italian Vogue’s September issue. It was to be photographed by Steven Meisel and styled by Karl Templer.
With a mood board of colours and Dickensian vibes and only 10 days before the courier arrived to take them to New York, we pulled out all stops. We already owned a great collection of upholstery fabrics, hemp, braids and some old treasured documents from the 1700s – ideas were bubbling. Using iron transfers to print old playing cards and the script we patched together the very first La Fortuna boots and House of Usher boots.
Since then we have made the Alice in Wonderland boots using the same techniques, only now we print our images on leather at a digital printer business here on the Sunshine Coast.
Some of the other patchwork designs we’ve made include Raggle Taggle Gypsy booties, with their images of roses, owls and bluebirds, and our iconic Edgar Allan Poe boots, with their dark colours and images of ravens, clocks, script and Aces of Spades. We’re currently working on a pair of Pirate boots which will feature a patchwork of rustic leathers, hinges, buckles and images of ships, a compass and sea monsters.
We can even print custom images to order for your special boots as well. Just contact us with your idea.
