Women's shoe-making workshop, Portugal (São Roque)

Our partner workshop is located in the heart of the sumptuous hills south of Porto, around the village of São Roque. This women's leather shoe manufacturer, with proven expertise, is capable of producing several types of shoes. This family workshop has been preserving and developing its expertise in shoe-making for nearly three decades

The workshop and JULES & JENN

While searching for specialized shoe workshops, we came across this small manufacturing unit, ideal for crafting our timeless designs. They immediately understood our JULES & JENN sustainable fashion project and adapted to our requirements for transparency, traceability, and durable materials.

Despite the decline of major clients in recent years, the workshop has overcome challenges by maintaining the undeniable expertise that continues to make Porto and its region famous. We thus benefit from their traditional expertise, while working hand in hand on the development of our contemporary and stylish collections.

It is therefore to our partnership that we owe our essential velcro sneakers and most of our pretty winter ankle boots!

Shoe-making

Based on the design, the pattern maker creates the pattern for the various parts that will make up the shoe. Using punches, the cutter cuts out, manually or with a press, the different parts of the model from the chosen material. The pieces must be carefully cut to avoid natural defects in the leather. The parts making up the upper - the top of the shoe - are then sewn together. The internal reinforcements and counters are sewn or glued. The upper is then placed on a mold, varying according to the size, to be attached to the inner sole. Depending on the model, the sewing, gluing, sanding, and drying operations follow one another. Finally, the leather outsole is attached, first by gluing, sometimes by stitching. After a drying time, the shoe is assembled. The mold is then removed from the shoe. The final touch is the attachment of the insole, which is the visible insole, on which the foot rests. Finally, the shoe is polished to ensure an impeccable finish. Wrapped in tissue paper, the shoe is delicately placed in its JULES & JENN box. All that's left is to slip your feet inside.

Discover our women's shoes