Korbinian Ludwig Heß

Shoemaker

By hand, for feet

Making a pair of handmade shoes takes around 100 hours
Korbinian's greatest inspiration is the customer
One customer crossed the Sahara wearing his shoes

After meeting a theatrical shoemaker, opera student Korbinian Ludwig Heß fell in love with the craft, changing from singing to shoemaking. His two-year training started in 2009 in Vienna at the world renowned Rudolf Scheer & Sons, followed by stints in different countries across Europe. This shaped his vision for bespoke shoemaking and taught him how to incorporate new techniques and styles into his work. Korbinian is a stickler for detail and works entirely by hand; he doesn't even use electricity in his Berlin workshop, which opened in 2017. A meticulous process comprising at least three appointments with the customer and the production of two pairs of fitted shoes results in one-of-a-kind footwear, crafted according to the feet and personality of the wearer.

Interview

What makes this craft so appealing?: Shoemaking, to me, is the perfect combination of fine, precise and hard, rough work. It changes your perspective and the way you see life. It almost becomes the link between a human being and the planet; the whole painstaking process brings you down to earth.
Is there a fine line between tradition and innovation in what you do?: I work according to centuries-old techniques, trying to filter them through a modern eye and sustainable appeal: no wastage of materials (we even make some of our glues), leather sourced from local tanneries, contemporary design and impeccable working conditions.
What legacy would you like to leave?: Shoemaking in a way was terminated in Germany after World War Two, therefore at the moment there is no such thing as a German style, while there is one elsewhere in Europe: functional and sturdy shoes in Hungary and Austria, elegant in France and England. I’d like to bring ours back.
What does well made mean to you?: The perfection of imperfection. A bespoke shoe has to fit the customer and each customer is different, so there can be different results. But in the end, a bespoke shoe is well made when the customer is happy with it.

Korbinian Ludwig Heß is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2009