Comments on: The Pointe Shoe Makers Of Hackney https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 14 Jun 2025 04:26:52 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Nick Orloff https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1736692 Sat, 14 Jun 2025 04:26:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1736692 Dear Gentle Author,

For no good reason your website fell off my reading list.

After reading this, I’ll be back every day to find the latest posts.

What a wonderful article.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1733129 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:24:37 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1733129 THIS is why we love Spitalfields Life. You anticipate that we will want to know every thing,
and reward us accordingly. I love meeting these stalwart, hard-working men — and seeing their
“marks”, and knowing more about the specialized job they do. I love the concept of strong capable craftsmen supporting the creative efforts of (also) hard working career dancers. So much intentionality going into everything, both on-stage and behind-the-scenes. We live near one of the preeminent dance venues in the US, Jacobs Pillow, and I will never see a ballet dancer without thinking of the shoe makers! It all counts. And takes a village.

]]> By: C Scofield https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1733083 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:29:36 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1733083 Their creations- and this, yours – fascinating!

]]> By: Ann https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1733052 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:31:49 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1733052 What a brilliant article. I remember being taken to buy my first pair of Freed ballet shoes at the age of 10. (I was a later starter). I always think of them when I pass the factory in Hackney. You gave us a fabulous insight into the wonderful work that they do.

]]> By: Milo https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732984 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:38:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732984 The more juvenile side of me would say I didn’t get the pointe of that piece. But I did and once again I’m in awe – and a little jealous frankly – of these artisans and of all the craftspeople who you manage to unearth in their burrows both in London and elsewhere.

To be able to go to bed at night knowing you are part of a tiny band of gifted makers, that dwindling few who continue to create beautiful objects, must be so intensely satisfying. AND you get paid! Beats working at ‘Pret’ any day.

]]> By: achim https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732975 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:04:29 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732975 A great report on this craftsmanship. I didn’t know until now that these gentlemen are practically the exclusive suppliers for the ballet dancers. And they are absolutely irreplaceable!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

]]> By: Valerie Cottle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732948 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:05:31 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732948 What an absolutely fascinating story! How seldom when we watch something like a beautiful ballet performance do we think about all the unseen people, like these men at Freed of London, whose skills are essential for the onstage miracle to work. ‘Spitalfields Life’ is a daily treat – Thankyou.

]]> By: Anthony Quinn https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732925 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:03:15 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732925 What a brilliant piece: strange, intricate, revelatory and very touching. It tells you about a world you didn’t know. Hats off.

]]> By: Peter Kurton https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732910 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:07:26 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732910 The Victorian Ballet Shoe Makers of Stepney

When my Lithuanian grandfather first came to London in 1894 he ran a flourishing cottage industry from his tiny home in Planet Street Stepney.
Other Lithuanians came and they spent all day sewing, glueing and hammering ballet shoes. At the end of the day he took all the completed shoes tied on a long stick to the wholesaler who then paid him. The money was then shared out amongst the others.

I remember my great aunt remarking that they used to hammer and bang these things on their knees. She winced as she told me. I notice there are knee-shaped lasts on the benches of these craftsmen.
For more info on these Lithuanians please contact me. I’m the old guy on Facebook. Peter Kurton

]]> By: Charlotte Browne https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/06/05/the-pointe-shoe-makers-of-hackney-i/#comment-1732889 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:44:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=203437#comment-1732889 Fascinating insight into the world of ballet shoemakers – modest people making an extraordinary shoe.

]]>