About
Wove shoes was founded in the heart of Sussex by Laura Potts. It is a culmination of many years working as a shoemaker and nudge of circumstances during Covid.
Working with such a high level of craft in the past has been a real inspiration to me and I’ve definitely sought to follow this path, using high quality but also long lasting, environmentally friendly veg tanned leathers. Working as a closer (sewing the uppers and working on the finishing and many hand sewn elements) making very high-end bespoke ladies' shoes, I realised not only would I never be able to afford such exquisite shoes for myself but I'd never even have a reason to wear them. The shoes I was making (and loved doing so) were made for such grand occasions and with such detail that I would fear damaging them. However, I loved the quality and the way the leather was used to really show off its natural beauty, its malleability and form.
Having looked for somewhere to buy footwear that had this tradition and craftsmanship within the making but that would be ideal to be worn whilst going about my daily jobs, I couldn’t find what I was looking for.
So from this, the concept of Wove emerged. Quality and luxury, that is not just for the special occasion but for the everyday.
Using knowledge gained from working in the high-end world of leather goods, I have developed these shoes painstakingly and over time. They are not sent out to be produced in a far-off land, but come together in my small workshop tucked between the Downs and the sea. This is not fast fashion but crafted style. All aspects are worked out by hands (my hands). Starting with just one toe shape on a flat last, I have made shoes that I love and love to wear. I hope you will too.
My Leather
What is veg tan leather?
Just to clear things up, vegetable tanned leather is still leather. It’s called vegetable tanned because of the tanning process.
How is it made?
Using animal skins which are the by product from the meat industry. Vegetable tanned leather is created by using a mixture of natural ingredients: plants, crushed bark from trees, leaves and twigs. These will determine the length of the dying process, the colour and its mailability.
The skins are dyed and preserved.
It can either be drum tanned, which is quicker and creates a softer leather or pit tanned. Pit tanning creates a heavier, rigid skin. This is more commonly used in soling a shoe.
Why do I use it?
Tanning leather in this way created a solely natural product that is biodegradable (after a very long time if cared for well) and that releases no harmful chemicals into the earth’s eco system. The tanning process is also non-toxic, unlike any other tanning and leather finishing production, which will be releasing hazardous waste throughout its production and product life.
Due to the nature of the natural tanning process, veg tan leather takes a lot longer to create from start to finish and requires great skill from the tanners. This craft filled process therefore costs more and is reflected in our pricing.
Only the best skins are selected for the veg tan process as the final finish will show the natural grain of the hide. This to me is a sign of quality. Leathers are so often slicked over with such heavy finishes that the natural grain is not seen. This cannot be said of the Wove Shoe.
Seeing the grain of the leather is a mark of high quality and not a product blemish. I leave the grain visible to be enjoyed.
The difference in this leather is a matter of smell, feel and movement. The development of patina over time is only something you’ll get with veg tan leather. It will wear naturally accepting grazes, dents and scratches that can be buffed out and embraced as character, unlike its chemically infused counterpart, which once scratched loses its finesse.
