You’ve Never Seen Wedding Shoes like These Before
We thought we’d hit the customized footwear cap after build-your-own flats, but our new shoe company crush takes the trend a step beyond.
The one-of-a-kind designs are part imagination, part your story. Commission a pair and get prepared to share. “I start by talking with a bride about her unique story or her wedding plans, or even just look at the style of the shoes themselves. It gives me a lot of inspiration and insight into what style would best suit her on her special day,” says Thomson.
Like many of our favorite maker stories, Figgie Shoes originated as a hobby. Thomson, who had always been an artist, was working as a wedding photographer when a fellow photog pal asked her to paint her wedding dress.
Five years later, Thomson has painted shoes for hundreds of people all around the world. At one point, the sole-full designer had a 200 plus waiting list for her beautiful designs!
“In the beginning, I really struggled with handling all of the orders and emails and also juggling my photography business. I thought that asking for help with the tasks meant that I wasn’t as good or it was just me taking the easy way out instead of buckling down and doing what I should be able to do,” says Thomson. “I realized pretty quickly that hiring help was not only necessary but also better leadership.”
Today, Figgie Shoes is a family affair. Thomson’s sister Leah handles all of the office-related responsibilities while another sister, Becky, designed the original website and handled the office for the first year.
Not getting hitched? You don’t need a ring to snag a pair of Figgie Shoes. There are no prerequisites for these babies! “I’ve done artwork on baby shoes, purses, makeup bags, wallets, gloves, scarfs, backpacks, mugs… even cufflinks! If you have something you’d like personalized, there’s a good chance I can do it for you.”
We’ve already started our list.
What would you want to see on your pair of Figgie Shoes?
