Starting out on your home shoe making journey can be a daunting task for a beginner. We have compiled a bunch of suppliers for all the materials you will need below to get you started!
The below are the base materials you will need for making your own sandals.
- Upper Leather (1.4-2mm thickness)
- Lining Leather (0.6mm thickness)
- EVA Insole Foam (3-4mm)
- Leather Randing
- Resin Soles x 2 (3mm thickness)
- Resin Combination Heels x 2 (6mm total thickness)
- Aquilim 315 Glue (125ml)
- Brushes (small + large)
- Chinagraph Tracing Pencil (white)
- Buckles 16-18mm (only required for some styles)
- Harness Needle Size 1 (only required for some styles)
- Waxed Cotton Thread 1mm thickness (only required for some styles)
The below are some common handy items you may require
Check out our Journal Shoe Making Tools + Where to Purchase Them for more speciality tools
- Scissors (for cutting leather - Mandel or Kasser are some of the suitable options)
- Shears (for cutting through heavy materials, i .e. leather soles & heels)
- Hammer (standard household will be suitable)
- Measuring tape
- Paper or light cardboard
- Pen/pencil
- Sandpaper (80-120 grit i s suitable)
- Gas lighter (to melt the wax thread)
This is not an exhaustive list, but should definitely sort you out when sourcing your own shoemaking tools and materials!
Suppliers in Australia
- https://www.leffler.com.au/ (good range of all supplies)
- https://www.birdsall-leather.com.au/ (leather + tools + accessories)
- https://www.theleathershed.com.au/ (leather)
- https://packerdirect.com.au/ (leather)
- https://www.shoeproductsaustralia.com.au/ (also part of Leffler)
- https://maclaceleather.com.au/ (tools + accessories + some leather)
- http://www.leatherco.com.au/ (leather)
Suppliers in New Zealand
- http://footcom.co.nz/ ((good range of all supplies)
- https://lapco.co.nz/ (leather + tools + accessories)
- https://nzlsl.co.nz/garment/ (just leather)
- https://www.gdltradingnz.co.nz/ (leather + tools)
- https://www.mollies.nz/category/199553 (tools + leather + accessories + glue)
Suppliers in United States
- https://tandyleather.com/ (good range of all supplies)
- https://www.leathersmithdesigns.com/tools-for-leather-craft/ (tools)
- http://www.kaufmanshoe.com/ (leather + tools + glue)
Suppliers in United Kingdom
- https://www.leathermob.co/ (good range of all supplies)
- https://www.identityleathercraft.com/ (good range of all supplies)
- https://www.artisanleather.co.uk/ (good range of all supplies)
- https://lintonleather.com/ (tools)
- https://leather4craft.co.uk/product-category/craft-packs/ (leather)
- https://www.lionshome.co.uk/home-improvements-craft-tools/leather/ (tools)
- https://www.hedgehogleather.co.uk/ (leather and tools)
- https://www.pittards.com/about/contact-us/ (leather + tools)
- https://wutaleather.com/ (leather + tools)
- https://icanmakeshoes.com/en-au/collections/all-products (supplies)
Suppliers in Europe
- https://tandyleather.eu/ (good range of all supplies)
Suppliers in Asia
- https://leathercrafttools.com/ (tools)
- https://www.ivan.tw/pages/store-locations (good range of all supplies)
We hope this list of supplies + suppliers can help you out on your home shoe making journey!
xx Ali, Charlie + Lisa