The Shoemaker from the Guild — William Efe Laborde: Bespoke Opera Pumps, The Commission | Ep. 1

There are moments in life when passion, history, and craftsmanship converge — and this is one of them. Over twenty years ago, a pair of opera pumps sparked my love affair with shoemaking. Refined, elegant, and utterly timeless, they became the shoe I always dreamed of one day having made bespoke. Well, that day has finally come. Join me as I travel with one of London's newest and most exciting independent shoemakers, William Laborde, to a place I had never been — Saddlers Hall in the heart of the City of London, home to one of the oldest guilds in the world. What unfolds is not just the beginning of a commission, but a journey deep into the very soul of what makes London shoemaking so extraordinary. From centuries-old apprentice records to masterpieces sewn with a single human hair, this is where the story of my opera pumps begins — and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you. 🔍 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://www.kirbyallison.com #operapumps #shoemaking #london #kirbyallison 🌟 MOST POPULAR VIDEOS ▶️ $400 Shoes vs $1300 Shoes - A Black Cap Toe Oxford Comparison: https://youtu.be/uKFO_x8C2ek ▶️ Gentlemen's Day Out In London | Kirby Allison & Tom Cham