Comments on: At Freed Of London Ltd, Ballet & Theatrical Shoe Makers

By: Abumchi Cann

Abumchi Cann — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:41:30 +0000

WOW!!
I am on the hunt for someone who can create a pair of boots that I saw in a movie (and have become thoroughly obsessed with now), so I have been on LOTS of sites and read many an article. I just loved reading this article and looking at all the pictures. Thank you so much for a great read and I wish the company the very best for the future.

By: Robin

Robin — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:43:16 +0000

Wonderful to see such marvelous craftsmanship and care taken over these beautiful shoes by such amazing people.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:13:21 +0000

I have always had dodgy feet and so I am not massively into shoes but I loved reading about the process of how they are made. And great to see people being able to use such specialist skills…

And more terrific photos! Thanks

By: Betsy Barker

Betsy Barker — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:12:17 +0000

Oh, my, what an utterly lovely story, especially in these crazy B***** weeks.
Thank you, Gentle Author, and thank you, Freed of London..

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:13:55 +0000

The word “footlights” takes on new meaning, after seeing this post. The ladies strappy, bejeweled shoes got my notice — I’ve always been in awe of female dancers who can twirl,
pivot, leap, and tap — all wearing impossibly glamorous shoes. Now I realize that (of course!)
dedicated professionals are behind those seemingly-delicate shoes……making the magic possible.

Thanks GA — You take us to the most amazing places, and introduce us to great folks.
Loved this post! (and the part about drying the glue overnight in an oven — brilliant!)

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:30:39 +0000

A pointe shoe has a short life as well, after 20 hours of dancing they need to be replaced. In professional companies dancers wear a new pair for every performance. And pointe shoes are also noisy. The shoes look dainty but they are are actually quite hard and if there was no orchestra the audience would hear the thumping sounds of the dancers feet hitting the floor. Also the ribbons and elastics are not attached in the factory, but are sewn on by hand, each dancer does her own.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:38:27 +0000

Fantastic! I loved the article.

By: Bethea Jenner

Bethea Jenner — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:45:55 +0000

What a fascinating and heartwarming piece – long may they continue. Thank you, Gentle Author.

By: sprite

sprite — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 03:44:17 +0000

as a little girl I wanted to be, when I grew old, a nun, a nurse or a ballet dancer… yet growing up in the depth of french countryside the chances of fulfilling the third one was exactly nil but there’s still a dancer within the nurse that got stranded by fate in east london, and every time I read about the shoemakers of hackney, i get close to the dream again… never tire of reading about the process

… as for the nun…. well, I discovered more exciting things to do when growing up