Swap to Arts & crafts or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Footwear designer-makers produce, design and manufacture men's, women's and children's footwear.
You could work: between 8am and 6pm; on shifts
There will be
4.3% more Footwear designer-maker jobs in 2029.
In your local area
As a footwear designer-maker in the design stage, you could:
During manufacturing, you could:
You could work in a creative studio, in a workshop, in a factory or from home.
You can get into this job through:
You could study for a degree in footwear design, or a fashion design qualification that includes footwear options.
You should look for courses that teach both the design and technical skills needed by the industry.
The British Fashion Council is a good place to start looking for courses.
You'll usually need:
You could apply to do a Footwear Manufacturer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a footwear company.
If you want to work in footwear design, you could do a Fashion and Textiles Product Technologist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
These typically take around 2 years to complete and combine workplace training and study off site.
You'll usually need:
You could start as an assistant in a design studio or manufacturing company and learn on the job. With further training, you could begin to produce your own designs.
You could apply directly to employers for a trainee position.
You will need to show that you have good practical skills and the ability to follow instructions and job specifications. Experience in shoe repair, textile production or leatherwork could be helpful.
It's important to put together a portfolio of your work that you can take to employers. This can include designs, technical drawings and mood boards that showcase your creative talents.
You can find more details about a career in footwear design and production from UKFT Futures and the British Footwear Association.
With experience in a footwear company, you could progress to senior designer, head of department or manufacturing production manager.
You could specialise in custom-made products, like luxury bespoke shoes, orthopaedic footwear, or historical and theatrical costume footwear.
You might also become a freelance designer, employed by companies to work on specific projects, or become self-employed and launch your own collections.