Ars Sutoria School | Product prototyping program - 3 weeks

Product prototyping program



Target Students

  • Footwear product developers and technicians who need to have a framework to approach technical issues such as fit and comfort of shoes.
  • Different footwear professionals such as managers, material and component sourcers, designers, buyers, cost analysis’s that need to have a better understanding of the entire footwear development process and of the factors that influence quality and cost.


Training Program

  • Instructors with over 30 years experience have been chosen to cover all the different aspects that affect the result of a shoe project: a last and fit technician, a pattern instructor and production expert.

    The first week is dedicated to structure of the last and to bottom components of a shoe: the purpose is to enable participants to analyze and better understand the importance of a proportioned last: the last being the crucial starting point in footwear design and development. Objective of the course is not to provide the “ultimate” numerical last measurements but to have each student understand the fundamental principles of foot anatomy and stimulate curiosity as to how to make a shoe fit correctly.

    The second week is dedicated to pattern development and to assembly of prototypes. Leathers, textiles and synthetics, provided by Italian partner companies, are analysed together with the instructors and used for the patterns of uppers and linings. Prototypes are assembled in a footwear laboratory. Each student is able to assist in the pattern making, cutting, stitching, mounting and finishing phases of prototypes made in a wide range of materials in order to understand their performance in production.

    The third week is dedicated to evaluation and discussion: shoes are fit tested on a model and discussed with all three instructors together. Each one sharing their specific expertise with the participants.

    During the final phase of the course visits are organized to leading Italian footwear factories, last and heel factories, sole and insole manufacturers.

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