Every shoe starts its journey in our Pattern Room; The design and development phase. Our pattern technologist works closely with our designers to bring their concepts to life. This involves blending traditional styles with trend insights, all while considering input from our retail teams and valued customers.
Should a pattern not be perfect upon leaving this room, the shoes produced in our factory will likewise fall short. We employ the traditional method of masking a last, from which the 'Mean Form' is made, an average of that last and the base of our patterns. The last is a solid, three-dimensional form on which the shoe is constructed. There is a last for every shape, size and width that Cheaney produce. The whole look and feel of a shoe starts with this.
Pattern cutting has evolved with the introduction of software, enabling the team to scale and tweak patterns were needed. Prototype samples are crafted and tested for fit until satisfaction is achieved with the design. Recognising the importance of precision, even the slightest miscalculation can impact a shoe's fit and quality.
Our Design manager oversees every detail from concept to completion, including creating detailed spec sheets to guide the factory.