6 nights Moccasins with Ottowin
Description
Lucy runs Ottowin Footwear and has been making shoes by hand since 2016, taking an approach which puts honest materials front and centre of her practice with paired back timeless designs and a focus on craftsmanship and quality. Not only does Lucy teach leatherwork and shoe making courses but also is the designer and maker at Ottowin who release seasonal footwear collections all handmade from their Bristol workshop.
On this workshop retreat you will be able to learn from Lucy's technical knowledge and hands on experience to create your own pair of Ottowin moccasin shoes from start to finish.
The moccasin shoe is a unisex style and an Ottowin twist on a classic which has been handmade by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. It is one of the first types of leather shoe ever created, with examples dating back to 3500 BC, Armenia.
The Ottowin moccasin has a hand stitched upper creating a comfortable and relaxed shoe. You will be able to choose from sand suede, terracotta suede or beige suede for the main part or mix them with a selection of other suede colours for smaller accent areas to create your own unique pair.
This retreat is designed for somebody with no prior experience in shoemaking, a perfect introduction to the craft and shows what you can achieve with minimal equipment. Though being handy and capable of basic making techniques such as hand stitching and cutting will be useful (doesn’t have to be in leather work).
Lucy will guide you through the process of making a pair of suede moccasin shoes, from learning about the precious material, mastering hand tools, leather cutting, hand stitching and finishing.
You will finish the retreat with a pair of moccasin shoes made entirely by your own hands to your shoe size. All leather and hardware is included in the price.
Suede Choices:
Sand
Terracotta
Beige
+ Selection of suede & nubuck colours for small accent areas.
Monday: Check in day
You can check in at the Grove from 3pm. At 4pm there will be a meet and greet with Lucy and your fellow students over drinks and nibbles. We will introduce you to the house and you’ll get to know each other a bit better.
Tuesday
Introductory talk with Lucy in the studio learning about leather and all the components including soling and laces.
Transferring your patterns onto the leather.
Cutting practice and cutting out your leather upper.
Skiving and hole punching.
Wednesday
Cutting and stitching in cushioned mid-layer to create the bottom piece.
Cutting leather midsole board and attaching to the bottom piece.
Thursday
Hand stitching the bottom piece and top piece of the upper together to create your complete suede upper.
Friday
Glueing finished upper to outsole unit and finishing.
Saturday
Saturday is a free day for you to have a relaxed day in Rye after a week of sewing. Re visit your favourite Rye spots, get some last minute fabrics at the shop or go further afield to somewhere like Hastings or Great Dixter and have a day out with your new friends
Sunday
Check out by 10am.
There are 6 rooms at The Grove and accommodation is included. Rooms are single occupancy.
What is included in your retreat fee:
- 6 night stay at The Grove, in the heart of Rye (Monday night to Saturday night inclusive). This is a 2 minute walk from the shop and workshop where you’ll be.
- Welcome drinks at The Grove, where you meet your tutors and fellow students.
- 3½ days tuition with Lucy.
- Breakfast goodies at The Grove.
- A beautiful seasonal vegetarian lunch on all days.
- Plentiful teas, coffees and cake at the studio.
- A farewell supper with your tutors including wine.
- 10% off all purchases in the shop.
- All materials and tools needed for the week.
You can check into the Grove from 15:00 on Monday. There will be a meet and greet at 16:00 with your fellow housemates and tutor.



