Our Craftsmanship Secrets
It is in our offices in La Rochelle that our stylists bring their creativity to life. After an inspiration phase driven by current trends, initial sketches gradually take shape. Starting from a form, a color palette, or a pattern, we conceive new designs.
Once the models in the collection are approved, our stylists send technical drawings to the pattern maker, who designs the shoe's structure. They then define the ideal shape and print it in 3D.
This step allows us to work on the form to make the footwear as comfortable as possible, while also determining the amount of leather needed for each model to minimize waste.
The quality of the leather is essential for crafting a shoe. It influences its durability, flexibility, and also the surface's beauty.
Sourced from renowned European tanneries (Spain, Italy, and Portugal), our leathers are selected as close as possible to our workshops, in accordance with our standards.
The cutting stage prepares all the pieces needed for the shoe's construction.
Leathers are cut using metal die-cutting tools, specially designed for Pied de Biche, or with laser technology.
This step is crucial in defining the shoe's elegance and overall style.
Once all the leather pieces have been cut out, they are sent to the sewing workshop to assemble the upper, i.e. the top part of the shoe. This step requires real expertise and great attention to detail.
This is the stage where your shoes come to life. Using a machine, the upper is pressed against a form called a last, which shapes the lines of the model. The leather is then beaten with a mallet so that the upper fits the curves of the form perfectly. The soles are then added, glued, and sewn to the upper to ensure greater durability.
Finally, our sneakers are brushed, waterproofed, and laced up. A very demanding quality control check is carried out before they are boxed.
No middlemen between you and us! Once our artisans have finished making a batch, all Pied de Biche shoes are sent to our logistics centre. From there, your orders placed on the Pied de Biche online shop are carefully packaged and sent directly to your home. Part of the collections is delivered to our 10 shops (Paris Marais, Paris Montmartre, Paris St-Germain-Des-Prés, Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Nantes).
Come and visit us in our shops, we look forward to welcoming you!