Home Fashion + BeautyAccessories This Hoboken Shoemaker Allows People to Design Their Own Shoes

This Hoboken Shoemaker Allows People to Design Their Own Shoes

by Via Rutkowski
Via Rutkowski
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Whether you’re the shoe-obsessed Carrie Bradshaw type or just see shoes as a matter of function, we can’t deny that they are an absolute necessity. Finding the right pair of shoes can be tricky, as many of us city-goers walk several blocks on foot each day or are required to dress up for work and other events. It can be hard to find the right pair. If only there were a way to custom-make exactly what type of shoe is needed. Enter, Hoboken Shoedio, a shoemaking studio run by talented Hoboken resident and longtime designer Rebecca Heykes. Located at 1012 Grand Street in Hoboken, this one-of-a-kind space provides a unique setting to learn the art of shoemaking, collaborate on design projects, and more. Read on to learn more about the magic inside Hoboken Shoedio.

Hoboken Shoedio shoe design

How it Started

Rebecca has lived in Hoboken for 10 years. Before her move to the Mile Square City, she grew up in the Midwest where she attended the Milwaukee School of Design. Here she studied industrial design, which she says was “the best decision ever”. After graduating she moved to Chicago where she created visual displays for Anthropologie from 2007-2009. With the recession in full swing, Rebecca decided it was time to pivot and further her education. That’s when she decided to enroll in a two-year program at Cordwainers Technical College in London where she specialized in shoemaking. As she honed in on footwear design, she discovered her passion. Rebecca told The Hoboken Girl “I tried to extract as much as I could from that experience.” She also notes that her instructors helped her gain knowledge of this fascinating, high-quality European approach to shoemaking.

Read More: You Can Make Your Own Designer-Quality Bag at This Jersey City Studio

After her time in London, Rebecca returned to the US in 2011 where she moved to Sunnyside, Queens. Being in New York opened several doors for Rebecca and she spent the following years working with recognizable brands and designers such as Nine West, Anne Klein, and Marc Fisher.

These jobs took her all over the world as she worked closely with product development. It was during this time that Rebecca met friend and former business parker Keiko Hirosue. The two creatives were both shoemakers and began exchanging supplies, sharing equipment, and supporting each other on their design journeys. (A match made in fashion heaven!) Keiko and Rebecca even shared a studio space together in Brooklyn. Together, Rebecca and Keiko worked on client projects that turned into partnerships. This eventually led to the opening of their joint venture, Brooklyn Shoe Factory, which remained open until 2019 just before the pandemic hit. The two still collaborate and use each other’s supplies and machinery just like old times.

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Hoboken Shoedio Rebecca Heykes

Keiko now runs Brooklyn Shoe Space, an “inspiring makers’ classroom and coworking space where students and members can unleash their creativity and craft shoes”. Brooklyn Shoe Space is located in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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In January of 2020, Rebecca moved into Hoboken Shoedio where her new solo venture began. Rebecca told HG “To be a shoemaker is to love a challenge- you can be decades in and still have more to learn,” something that shines through her amazing technical skills. Aside from running Hoboken Shoedio, Rebecca also does shoe repair work for luxury brands while simultaneously designing for her own brand, Loyal Footwear.

 


 

About Hoboken Shoedio

Hoboken Shoedio is located inside 1012 Grand Street, an industrial building filled with sunlit spaces that have been taken over by several local artists, designers, creatives, and more. Rebecca told HG that she is so thankful for this space and is even more grateful to her landlords for their generous efforts and flexibility to keep artists afloat during the pandemic.

Inside Hoboken Shoedio, there are so many textures, machines, and tools to look at. And what’s even more fascinating is Rebecca’s innovative multi-use strategy for her space. Hoboken Shoedio acts as an umbrella for several creative projects in the shoe-making realm.

machines Hoboken Shoedio

First, Rebecca uses this space to work on the production of her own shoe brand Loyal Footwear. Second, Hoboken Shoedio also functions as a space for other designers to use and collaborate thanks to her extensive collection of tools and machinery. Hoboken Shoedio can be rented on an hourly basis for fellow shoemakers to create their own designs in an open, shared space. And lastly, of course, Hoboken Shoedio is the home base for Rebecca’s one-day shoemaking class titled Vegan Shoemaking, which can be booked via Airbnb Experiences.

If Rebecca looks familiar, it’s possible you may have spotted her on season 19 of Project Runway featuring her brand Loyal Footwear. Rebecca told HG she was paired with designer Katie Kortman and worked on a pair of colorful ankle booties with pom-poms. Check out more of Rebecca’s episode here.

See More: Where to Shop in Montclair for Your Fall Wardrobe

To Learn More

Rebecca really blew us away with her skill and extensive knowledge of shoemaking. Whether you’re a designer, fashion lover, or just curious about making shoes for yourself here are a few ways to get involved.

Hoboken Shoedio shoe sizes

To book a class with Rebecca, patrons can inquire via DM at Vegan Shoemaking through Airbnb Experiences. Fellow designers can also inquire via DM at Hoboken Shoedio to rent the space by hour. Lastly, to shop Rebecca’s made-to-order shoes visit the website.

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After years of bustling through NYC and working in the fashion industry, Via pivoted her career when the pandemic had other plans. From copywriting and social media to PR and TV hosting, Via wore many hats that ultimately helped her identify her passion for storytelling. Now, she gets to admire the NYC skyline from her home in Jersey City where she runs a business of her own. When she’s not writing in a coffee shop or tending to her clients you can find her experimenting with photography and snapping outfit videos outside of some of your favorite local spots.

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