Annie Mohaupt

Starting with simple faux leather fabric and lumber, and through a series of drawing, carving, cutting, laminating, sculpting, riveting, nailing – plus a lot of experimentation and experience – I transform these materials into functional art. I started crafting footwear around 20 years ago, originally as an experiment to see if I could create a pair of shoes myself. While it was more of a challenge than I originally anticipated, I persisted because I quickly developed a strong passion for playing with materials and techniques rooted in my background in architecture. Over the years, I developed a unique approach to shoemaking, while also adding handbags, accessories, and other wearable items to my collection. My passion is blending innovative design tools from the architectural world with traditional principles of form and function, which are particularly important for wearables that must be durable and comfortable in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. My material palette features warm, inviting, and sustainably sourced elements, such as Midwestern hardwoods and American-made luxury vegan leathers. I particularly enjoy drawing 2D patterns and sculpting them into three-dimensional, functional items – whether its handbags, footwear or delightful little accessories. Link to Instagram post showing shoemaking process. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Rd0QlLaHY/