Blog
How to care for leather shoes — a maker's guide
Apr 10, 2026
A practical guide to leather shoe care from Sydney shoemaker Andrew McDonald. Conditioning, polishing, storage and what to avoid — everything you need to keep leather alive.
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The complete guide to shoe care and repair
Mar 24, 2026
There is a simple question every owner of quality shoes should ask the moment they leave the workshop or shop floor: have I protected the sole? Leather soles, for all their beauty, are vulnerable. Within the first few wears on city pavements they begin to wear in a way that is difficult — and expensive — to reverse.
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What Are Bespoke Shoes — And Why Would You Commission a Pair?
Mar 18, 2026
The word 'bespoke' has been stretched almost beyond usefulness by marketing. You'll see it applied to everything from machine-cut suits to mass-produced watches. In the context of footwear, it has a specific and non-negotiable meaning: a shoe made from scratch, on a last carved or shaped to the exact measurements and contours of your individual foot, for you and no one else.
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Can Shoes Be Resoled? Everything You Need To Know About Shoe Repair and After-Sales Care
Mar 18, 2026
Chronic foot pain is rarely a life sentence. More often, it's a shoe problem dressed up as a foot problem.
Foot pain ...
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Why Your Feet Hurt — And Why the Answer Is Usually Your Shoes
Mar 18, 2026
Chronic foot pain is rarely a life sentence. More often, it's a shoe problem dressed up as a foot problem.
Foot pain ...
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Wide feet and ready-to-wear shoes: why sizing up is making things worse
Mar 18, 2026
As an Australian shoemaker, the wide feet struggle is one of the most common problems I see in my Sydney workshop. I ...
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Andrew McDonald Shoemaker: Crafting Timeless Footwear in the Heart of Sydney
Jul 10, 2025
Andrew McDonald Shoemaker: Crafting Timeless Footwear in the Heart of Sydney
News| 2nd June 2025
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Hand Dyeing: Elevating Shoes to New Heights
May 3, 2024
Hand dyeing is the process of adding colour or texture to the leather. Hand-dyed shoes have a depth of colour that captivate the eye and create an aura of authenticity.
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Oxford shoes
Sep 6, 2023
Elevate Your Style with Timeless Elegance: Oxford Men's Shoes by Andrew McDonald
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So how was your year ? the year in review.
Dec 8, 2020
In this short video retailers in The Strand Arcade talk about their experiences dealing with covid in 2020. The ups and the downs as well as the highlights and joy of this year.
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Dubbo gaol museum shoemaking video
Nov 10, 2020
This short video depicts some of the processes used by prisoners making shoes at old Dubbo gaol. The gaol is now a museum. As a visitor when you peer into the jail cell you will see this video playing reproducing the shoemaking techniques of yore.
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Womens shoe style guide
Aug 1, 2020
There’s a vast variety of shoe styles for women, each with their own identity and history. The wide array of women's shoe styles can sometimes leave us a little confused as to what's what, and when certain women's shoe types should be worn.
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