What drew you to the craft of shoemaking?
It was a combination of being fascinated by leather, its special scent and characteristics, and being able to produce unique, singular objects. My passion was already there when I made my very first gentleman’s low shoe, a classic Oxford cap toe out of black calfskin, and it has never declined.
What inspires your shoes?
Discussion with my customers. Everyone has different taste and, of course, unique feet. Being a foot consultant in all respects inspires me, discussing orthopaedic issues as well as questions of fashion and design. I’m thankful when I reflect on how many people are wearing my shoes this very minute.
© Vickermann u. Stoya
Has there been an unforgettable moment in your career?
Years ago, Vickermann & Stoya was invited to join cruises on MS Europa/Hapag Lloyd and Sea Cloud to give specialist talks on shoe care. It was a great honour for us to have this opportunity and of course even though it was work, it was a privilege to travel the world while winning new clients.
How do you innovate in your craft?
We are a classical shoemaker using very traditional manufacturing methods, and we also tend to recommend the more classic, rather than cutting-edge, shoe models to our customers. But we present ourselves in a very modern way. Recently, we launched a website with an online shoe repair system.