The outworker
To photograph is to paint with the light…
Although, as the only thing that was not actually made by me, the upper design is what makes this pair unique in my general portfolio.
I’m strongly convinced that way too often we don’t ask the right questions, when it comes to the solution. For example, we tend to reckon that the turmoil of the current world’s affairs has its roots in the politics. No such thing!
The problems of this world are spiritual in nature. Therefore the right question here should regard anthropology as a good starting point.
Likewise, it’s important for the bespoke shoemaker to figure out the income question. The very fundamental notion here is that this business serves only the golden one per cent of the population. The competition is based on the personality and unique style of the maker, along with the high quality of the work and materials used for the production. These are the grounds. The service is for the elite and is expensive. One needs to work hard for the reputation and respected brand name for oneself for years.
For that reasons, this business is hard to get started. But if you’re the one to stay, the days after are just even flow of orders and good money in your account. There is this uneasy matter of what to do in the midterm of your career, before one gets to the comforts of sweet independence? In my case, I’ve decided to get a job as an outworker for some already established company. Due to my natural talents, I knew I can go ahead and ask the very top brands in Poland. That’s what I did.
This was my sort of a life hack. My own answer to the question: ‘how the heck to sustain my own shoemaking and secure a steady income by still making shoes in my idle work schedule’? Many of us do exactly the same thing. I can honestly concur that it works really well.
The only downside of the method is that one literally needs to focus solely on work. One can forget the luxuries enjoyed by other people with regular jobs. You want to be ready to work seven days a week, all year long.
Otherwise, you’ll never manage to become an independent shoemaker and you’ll end up as an outworker-only. This is the reality behind the success of those shoemakers you now admire. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the case.
Why do I find this solution superior to others? Well, if your aim is to be as good as possible at what you do, you should look out for ways to learn, practice and make as many mistakes as it gets. People like Daniel Wegan say that shoemaker can learn if the job will ever work well for him after some fifty or hundred pairs. As a complete unknown on the market, you’ll never get a chance to even ask that question.
I have to admit - I’m a lucky person. As an outworker, I can experiment with and practice very specific aspects all the time, for I’m not working according to any specification. That is something super easy for me to connect with my own shoemaking. In general, I almost always make the design and construction decisions on behalf of my trusting clients. So I do get the lasts and uppers ready-made, but all the rest of the job is totally on me.
Normally, I don’t share my works made for other brands, but these shoes were truly impressive in the real life. The lasts are mine, so it surely feels like as if entirely my own pair.
It does take your life along with it. Hence, if that thing is not your true passion, you have nothing to look for here. Shoemaking is a lifestyle, not a job.
Sure, it’s beautiful and fulfilling. A nice story to tell, at the end of the day. But it comes with the price, have no illusions about that. That’s what I’ve understood, but don’t get me wrong - I’m only at my beginnings. I don’t want to sound like someone who thinks that I did figure it all out. I just share my thoughts with those who wants to read my stuff.
A nice textures study picture. I like to make that lifted top edge of the heel stack. It allows for that super sharp profile and consistent height of the heel all around the back of the shoe.
My remote job position is the best that one can ask for. No deadlines, no real directions, no pressure. Usually, I can simply do whatever I want with the uppers I’m getting from them.
It is very rare for me to do the last making job as part of our deal. This is something that I want to book for my own designs.
But sometimes I do! This brown braided derby pair is one of those rounds. How not to love these? I’m very happy with that last shape and the fit is perfect now. I’ve made two other pairs for that same customer previously, slightly adjusting those each time around.
My favorite way of relaxing is cycling. I even built my own workshop away from home, just to be able to justify the ride. In that way, I piece necessity and joy together. You can see it clearly now, don’t you? I always do things to spark a feeling of doing something right and good with my life. I hope you’ll enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed making them.