Bespoke Opera Pumps, First Fitting & Making with William Efe Laborde | Ep. 2

Today, we're in London — at William's workshop in the historic Ilifyard, a Victorian craftsman's yard dating back to the 1870s — for the first fitting of what I can only describe as one of the most anticipated projects I've ever undertaken. From the moment I first got into footwear, the opera pump captured my imagination. And having a pair made bespoke, with a traditional pump stitch construction — one of the rarest and most endangered techniques in all of shoemaking — is truly a moment of arrival. In this video, William walks us through the entire bespoke process — from hand-carving the hornbeam lasts and building up adjustments in oak bark tanned leather, to the first trial shoe fitting where last and pattern come together to achieve that perfect, harmonious fit. We also explore what makes the pump stitch so extraordinary, why it's nearly disappeared from the shoemaking world, and what separates a truly bespoke shoe from everything else. If you love classic menswear, fine craftsmanship, and the romance of things made the right way — the same way they've been made for over 150 years — I think you're going to love this one. 🔍 MORE ABOUT WILLIAM EFE LABORDE 🔸 Website: https://www.efelaborde.com/ 🔸 Instagram: @efelaborde 🙌 SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCygkzPpueoIJQsLUnGEqFdA/join 📽️ Join this channel to support our content with independent craftspeople and artisans: https://www.patreon.com/kirbyallison 🛒 Shop All Kirby Allison Products: https:/