Inside 124’s Artisan Workshops | Where Handmade Italian Shoes Begin

From Hand to Heel: Where 124 Shoes Are Truly Made

Before a pair of shoes lands on the boutique floor at Emporium Melbourne, it begins far from the crowd, in quiet Italian workshops where shoemaking remains a generational craft.

At 124 Shoes, we don’t chase trends or stock mass production. We source with intention, working exclusively with European makers who live and breathe the art of shoemaking.

Our story isn’t about fashion. It’s about legacy and honouring the hands that shape it.

The Space Between Luxury and Mass Market

Luxury today often means branding. We believe it should mean meaning.

124 Shoes was created to fill the space between impersonal designer labels and high-street footwear. We’re not about numbers or logo appeal. We’re about substance, timeless craftsmanship, enduring quality, and individuality.

Every brand we carry is chosen not for hype, but for its heritage and the story it tells through the shoes themselves.

Our Makers: The Hands Behind the Heritage

Our footwear is handcrafted in Italy by small-scale artisan manufacturers, family-run workshops based in regions like Marche, Veneto, and Tuscany. These are places where shoes aren’t just made, they’re inherited.

For customers seeking the ultimate expression of personalised luxury, 124 Shoes offers a Made to Order program. This exclusive service lets you collaborate directly with our artisans, selecting materials, colours, and finishing touches to create a pair uniquely yours.

It's more than customisation. It’s co-creation with makers who’ve spent decades perfecting their craft.

Brands with Legacy

Each brand we curate brings something rare and distinct:

• Mattia Capezzani — Sculptural, bold, and boundary-pushing. 
• Shoto — Pioneers of object dyeing, where colour is applied after construction for depth and individuality. Master of the washed aesthetic and unexpected forms.
• Conflict for Interest — A collision of modern design and old-world technique. Beautifully imperfect and deliberately unconventional.
• Lemargo & Ernesto Dolani —  Experts of vegetable-tanned leathers. Effortless comfort and age-worn charm from the first step.
• Lorena Paggi - Refined Italian elegance with everyday comfort. Signature soft leathers and sacchetto construction, each style offers a flexible, glove-like fit.

These aren’t mass-market shoes. They are made to age with you. Each pair is slightly different. Each pair has a soul.

The Art of Selection

We travel to Europe not to follow trends but to find authenticity.

Our buying team visits tanneries, inspects constructions, and builds relationships directly with the makers. We choose shoes that carry the marks of real craftsmanship: stitched by hand, built with natural materials, and rich with character.

True quality isn’t seasonal. It’s a standard.

Slow Fashion is the Future

Choosing artisan footwear is more than a style decision. It’s a sustainable choice.

By investing in shoes that are built to last and made ethically, you’re supporting the principles of slow fashion. You reduce waste, avoid the synthetic churn of fast fashion, and own something truly considered.

Our collection reflects the very best of artisan footwear available in Australia, where heritage meets modernity and quality is never compromised.

Why It Matters

In a world of disposable fashion, 124 Shoes stands for longevity, for stories worth wearing and pieces worth keeping.

When you wear a pair of 124 shoes, you’re not just wearing something stylish. You’re wearing decades of know-how. You’re walking in sculpted leather, dyed by hand, and stitched with soul.

It’s not about trends. It’s about taste and timelessness.

Step Into the Story

We invite you to visit our boutique in Emporium Melbourne, not just to shop but to experience something personal.

We’ll share the stories behind each maker, guide you to the right fit, and help you find the pair that speaks to who you are and where you're going.

Once you understand what goes into a truly great shoe, you’ll never look at footwear the same way again.

Exclusive Member Benefits

As part of our commitment to making craftsmanship more accessible, we invite new members of our Artisan World community to enjoy $124 off their first purchase.

All members also gain access to ongoing loyalty rewards, curated offers, and early access to seasonal collections.

This is your opportunity to invest in true artisan footwear with meaningful value and lasting quality.

Discover our collection of handmade Italian shoes in-store or online. Great shoes don’t start on the shelf. They start in the workshop.