Shoe Design & Shoemaking Online Course

The course will be hosted online; for our local students in South Africa, we will be sending a kit for learning. International students would need to organize the courier for collection 

What do you need?

• Internet Connectivity
• Laptop or cell phone
• Printer or Access to a printer

Because we will be teaching design, drawing, business and practical skills, the practical side of the course does not need to be done immediately—during the course we will explain what and where you can buy the tools required for making basic shoes and bags from home

Style Architects does provide starter kits, and we sell all tools and components—but none of them are necessary immediately. 

Not right away—you will not need one. During the course we explain the different types of sewing machines and which ones are great to buy and use. 

if you have a domestic sewing machine, that is perfect; you just won't be able to sew heavy leathers. You could sew vinyl leather, but then invest in a Teflon presser foot. 

During the course we teach a variety of techniques using sewing machines and handstitching. 

If you need anything, we provide you with suppliers locally around South Africa. 

We also supply many of the footwear materials and handbag materials needed for making a variety of products from home. 

Even though our course is online-based, it is a LIVE virtual online course, which means we do have schedules that students can follow to join lessons. The LIVE lessons officially will start 02 February 2026

However, if students are busy or can't join, every lesson is recorded and immediately uploaded to our Learning Drive. 

Students will have access to the current course material, but we always add extra classes and new learning material as the course progresses. 

You will always be notified of new course material that you can watch when you have time. 

Students have up to a year to revise, review, and learn. 

Live lessons run for 6 months | 2 times per month

Shoe Design Master Course — What Exactly Will I Learn?

You’ll learn the full process of designing and creating professional-grade footwear, from idea to finished product.
This course takes you from absolute beginner to confident shoe designer with industry-ready skills.

You will learn:

• Footwear Design Foundations:
  How to sketch, plan and develop shoe concepts the way professional designers do.

• Pattern Making:
  Step-by-step creation of every pattern piece needed to build a shoe.

• Foot & Fit Knowledge:
  Understanding lasts, sizing, structure, and comfort.

• Materials & Leather Selection:
  Which materials to use, how to select leather, and what affects durability, as well as where to buy them locally.

• Construction Techniques:
  How shoes are assembled, stitched, shaped and finished.

• Prototype Development:
  Turning your design into a real, wearable shoe.

• Brand & Business Skills:
  Pricing, branding, manufacturing basics, and how to prepare for production.

• Feedback & Support:
  Personal guidance to help you refine your work and grow your confidence.

By the end, you’ll be able to design and create your own luxury footwear from scratch.

Previously, our 5-day in-studio practical workshop was included in the course fee, and the full program was priced at R20,000. As more of our students began joining us from other provinces and internationally, attending the in-person workshop became difficult for many.

To make the course more accessible, we separated the practical workshop from the course and reduced the course fee to R15,000. This allows students to complete the practical component online at no additional cost or choose to attend the 5-day in-studio workshop if they would prefer hands-on training.

If you would like to join us in the studio, the practical workshop can simply be booked as an optional add-on for R4,900.

This approach gives students the flexibility to choose the learning experience that suits them best, whether online or in person.