Irakli Bochorishvili

Shoesofrenia

Shoemaker

©Teona Trapaidze

©Lasha Adamashvili

©Irakli Bochorishvili

The shoe sculptor

Irakli has a background in painting
He launched his shoemaking studio, Shoesofrenia, in 2002
He is famous for his bespoke shoes made without stitches

Irakli Bochorishvili is a bespoke shoemaker, who learned the techniques of his craft years ago from Italian shoemakers at the Tbilisi factory, Qartu Isani. After receiving this valuable experience, Irakli decided to pursue his own career in shoemaking and, in 2002, he founded his studio, Shoesofrenia. “The workshop was named by my friend, who always joked about my obsession with shoes and the extensive working hours at my studio, which looked like schizophrenia,” Irakli laughs. Having been trained as a painter, he was always passionate about sculpture, which today plays an essential role in the shoemaking process. “I had always struggled to find high-quality shoes that would comfortably suit my feet, so I decided to take a chance and study new crafts that would embody all my artistic interests. Shoes have a lot to do with sculpture, in terms of modelling three-dimensional shapes."

Interview

©Lasha Adamashvili

©Lasha Adamashvili

What is your technique for shoemaking?: My shoes are bespoke for particular people and they are entirely hand-made from the initial design to the last stitch. In our studio, we have 100-year-old Singer sewing machines, which are our best friends when it comes to the precise work needed on each shoe.
What is special about your shoes?: I create a limited edition collection of shoes without stitches. The process is quite time-consuming and labour-intensive, however the results are very special and exclusive. As time passes the texture and colour of the leather on our shoes might fade, however they still remain stylish and maintain a chic vintage look.
What does well made mean to you?: The custom-made shoe lasts, and a perfect fit for the feet is what makes the shoes comfortable and soft. The three golden rules for a shoemaker are quality of craftsmanship, resistance and comfort. However, at the end of the day, it is the happiness of a customer that gives value to our craft.
What inspires your works?: One of my previous collections was called “Transformers”, and it was inspired by German soldiers’ boots. They had a removable upper section, which could be worn as mini skirts. This multifunctionality is another beloved element for me to experiment with in my collections.

Irakli Bochorishvili is a master artisan: he began his career in 1998 and he started teaching in 2011