Whether it's pottery, woodworking, weaving, farming, food production, or any number of creative pursuits, there is a deep appreciation on Salt Spring Island for craftsmanship and the people who dedicate themselves to mastering a skill. We celebrate handmade work not simply because it is beautiful, but because it carries with it a story, a connection to the maker, and an understanding that quality takes time.
Most of us wear our shoes without giving much thought to how they were made, where they came from, or how long they are expected to last. Modern footwear is often designed around efficiency and affordability, produced thousands of kilometres away, and replaced long before it truly wears out. Repairability, longevity, and craftsmanship have largely disappeared from the conversation.
Yet as concerns about waste, sustainability, and overconsumption continue to grow, there is renewed interest in understanding how everyday items are made and in learning skills that were once commonplace.
Shoemaking is one such craft.
Shoes made in workshop
For generations, shoemakers combined artistry, practical knowledge, and technical skill to create footwear designed to fit well, last for years, and be repaired when needed. While industrial manufacturing has transformed the industry, the principles behind traditional shoemaking remain remarkably relevant today. In fact, they align closely with many of the values Salt Spring residents have embraced for decades: thoughtful consumption, self-reliance, environmental responsibility, and an appreciation for locally made goods.
That is one of the reasons the Wilding Foundation has chosen to support and subsidize a series of shoemaking workshops on Salt Spring Island.
The Foundation's goal is not simply to teach people how to make shoes. It is to help preserve practical skills, support local artisans, and make hands-on learning more accessible to the community. By subsidizing the workshops, the Foundation is helping reduce financial barriers so more people can participate in an experience that might otherwise be out of reach.
Shoes made in workshop
The investment also reflects a broader belief that communities benefit when knowledge is shared. Skills that are passed from one person to another strengthen local resilience, foster creativity, and create opportunities for people to become makers rather than simply consumers.
Leading the workshops is Salt Spring artisan Amy Slosky, a bespoke shoemaker whose path took her to Florence, Italy, where she trained under master shoemaker Angelo Imperatrice. Today, Amy works from her studio in the Maker Space at Baker Hall, creating custom footwear that blends traditional shoemaking techniques with contemporary design.
Amy Slosky, Instructor
Through her teaching, participants gain insight into the remarkable amount of thought, skill, and craftsmanship that goes into a well-made pair of shoes. More importantly, they develop a deeper appreciation for the relationship between quality, sustainability, and longevity.
Learning to make a pair of shoes may not solve the challenges of fast fashion on its own. But it does encourage a different way of thinking. One that values durability over disposability, craftsmanship over convenience, and connection over consumption.
This summer, that opportunity comes to life through the leather sandal-making workshops. The fully booked workshops will give more than 75 participants the opportunity to craft custom sandals tailored to their own feet while mastering traditional techniques from an experienced craftsperson. For some, it's an immersive, joyful creative escape; for others, it's the spark for a deeper appreciation of a craft that has shaped communities for centuries.
In either case, it is exactly the kind of hands-on, locally rooted learning experience that feels at home on Salt Spring Island.
To learn more about our workshops, or get on the list for the fall programs, visit https://wilding.org
