Meher Kakalia, Londoner and mother of 2,  became fascinated by her country’s shoe-making traditions .  Now she designs shoes in her Brixton studio and has them all hand made in a workshop she set up in her home town of Karachi. (Hearts and Crafts – Telegraph 2008-link).  Fusing ancient shoemaking techniques with a metropolitan aesthetic,   meher kakalia offers hand crafted pieces of fashion, which will stand the test of time.

When not in the factory, Meher is checking lasts and materials in Italy and emailing sketches to Karachi.  The team of pattern cutter, designer, technician and craftsmen by now almost instinctively know what to do.

The UPPER MAN is the first in the production line. It is he who draws the pattern directly on the leather and then passes the shoe to the embroiderer. A good EMBROIDERER will often work from memory and instinct and it is for this reason that each pair is completely unique. Next in line is the STITCHER who uses precision to hand stitch the upper to the sole. Finally the technician force LASTS the shoe. It’s at this point that the shoe begins to take its shape.