Overview

Develop your technical and practical skills to produce custom-made footwear, focusing on design, pattern, manufacturing and the presentation of finished ideas.

The Certificate IV In Custom Made Footwear has been designed to prepare you for a career in the production of custom-made footwear, or footwear in small production quantities.

By understanding the nature and environment in which footwear is created, you'll learn the skills that are applied at each stage of the construction process.

From the creation of freehand to computer-aided design sketches and technical drawings, you'll learn how to prepare, cut and sew the necessary components using a variety of materials to create uniquely original shoes.

Why study custom-made footwear at RMIT?

Industry links

Develop professional networks, liaise with renowned shoemakers and undertake work placements.

Graduate exhibition

At the end of the year, show off your best work to key industry representatives and companies.

Expert educators

Learn from educators with up-to-date knowledge of the market, trends and innovations in footwear.

Career

As a graduate, you will be able to enter the industry as an assistant where, over time, you may progress to a head footwear designer role within a large company.

Head footwear designers lead large design teams and travel or conduct market research to gain insight into current trends.

A number of graduates currently own and operate their own footwear design businesses.

Other graduates work as designers, product developers, production/quality controllers, supply chain managers and technical officers. 

As a footwear designer your daily activities may include:

• working with other designers, clients and stakeholders
• sketching design drawings by hand or using computer aided design programs
• attending fashion shows and events for research
• making prototype shoes
• sourcing materials such as leather or synthetic or sustainably produced materials

Graduate successes

• Ben Galloway
  Winner, Best Student Award presented by NSW Leather Co
• Ashlea Grisold
  Manager and Head Product Developer, Anuko Fashion
• Mindy Madden
  Maker and Designer, Du Zen, Luxury leather bags. Teacher, RMIT Short courses
• Raphael Thomson
  Technical Officer, Florsheim – Brand Collective