Bespoke shoemaker Stefano Bemer and the renowned Scuola del Cuoio are joining up to offer aspiring artisans new courses in shoemaking and leather accessories-making. Enrolment is now open for 2020 classes, which will blend expertise and resources from the 70-year-old academy and the training program established by Stefano Bemer’s CEO Tommaso Melani. 

The bespoke shoemaking program is composed of three stages to be completed over the course of a year. The introductory stage, called Apprentice, is a three-month program for students to acquire the basic skillset and knowledge base of hand-made shoemaking. 

This is linked with the Artigiano level, an additional three months of intensive study and work which enable students to have a complete shoemaking profile. This path must be completed before progressing to the Maestro level, which can be undertaken only by invitation of a master artisan.

Courses begin 27 January, 2020. An experience day will be held 28 November at the Scuola del Cuoio, where attendees can see students’ works and receive further information, and a virtual open day will be held 20 November.

Photo: After Stefano Bemer’s death, the company’s new CEO, Tommaso Melani, established a training program to preserve the legacy of Mr Bemer’s craftsmanship.  Credit: Stefano Bemer