Construction

All our lasts have been designed by Zoe in a number of factories throughout Italy. Each last has been developed and perfected over many years some as many as 10 years to really perfect... . These lasts make up the core of our shoes.

Some of the lasts are described as longer or shorter etc. but please bear in mind that the standard Italian measurements used in last making fit within these descriptions and that the reason for the difference is mostly for look and comfort. The style designed on each of these lasts fit a little differently according to variants such as where stitching sits on the shoe, what kind of leathers/materials are used etc but generally the fit will vary less on styles made on the same lasts. If a style seems to fit well then other styles on that last are likely to as well. All stitch work on the shoes is in nylon thread so as not to give too much nor erode over time. Please note that due to the strength of the nylon thread, shoes with stitching around the toe area will give less then styles that have less stitch work in this area. It is best that an evening or delicate shoe does not fit too snug to the foot as you do not want to destroy the silhouette of the shoe. The boots made from harder wearing leathers will keep their silhouettes better. Wherever possible Zoe avoids extra seams (unless part of the design) so that the chosen leathers can take on the natural shape of the wearers foot without the constraints of stitch work. We welcome any feedback you may have regarding how to improve our constructions.

The creation of each edition begins with thorough research into the tools necessary for making Zoe Lee shoes. These tools consist of texture, leather, textile and silhouette and technique. Never are there any themes to the editions but they do tell a story via the creation of new contexts. These new contexts are achieved by careful and well thought out use of the tools. Commitment to the creation of new contexts is what connects each edition. This system allows the shoes to remain timeless without attachment to current trends or fashion stories but ultimately modern and original. Once a shoe has found its owner  the real stories begins.

Each edition of shoes contain a large variation of leathers, treatments and techniques. We test these out as much as possible to ensure that not only will the shoes last but that they will age well. Our leathers are by-products and we source responsibly in Italy and France. Our components are also sourced and developed in Italy and France. We line our insoles with memory foam for longevity and comfort. Many of our exotic skins are from sourced from factory stocks, where the quantity is too small for a normal production run and would normally go to waste. We upcycle as much of the leathers as possible. 

Deepening of colors and textures may occur over time. This is part of the overall design of the shoe. We welcome any feedback concerning our leathers and hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy sourcing and developing them.

 

Heels

Zoe Lee heels have all been designed by Zoe Lee over the last 15 years and have been refined to fit perfectly with balance. Many of the heels have new and interesting textures, such as hand carved wood, metal plating, and stone plating.

 

Trims

Unless designed otherwise, all Zoe Lee shoes are finished with a variation of trims from grosgrain piping to specially developed metal work, such as the lace ends. Every Zoe Lee shoe is detailed with a tiny gold clip on the inside line of each shoe.

 

Soles

With the exception of certain styles due to the construction of the shoe, all Zoe Lee shoes contain a sole with a square rubber injection mold for an anti-slide. These soles also have a hand-painted edge and are handbuilt.

 

Insoles

All insoles are made with memory foam for comfort and longevity.

 

Textiles

There is always some use of textile within each Zoe Lee collection. From fine meshes to denim, all textiles selected have been developed specifically for footwear.

 

Printed Leathers

Every Zoe Lee collection contains many printed leathers. These printed leathers should always be treated with special care.

 

Weaving

Woven leathers are often used in Zoe Lee's spring/summer collections. All of the woven work is done by hand in Italy.

 

Packaging

Each pair of Zoe Lee shoes comes with its own dust bag.  Please be sure to use this dust bag when storing the shoes.  Zoe Lee uses extra thick cardboard for her shoe boxes. Please let us know if there is any damage on receipt of the shoes.