Taken on January 2, 2025
Zak Waterlow
Wholecut Veg Tan Leather Clog (Birkencrocz)
Barefoot Last: 43WIDE
Added 5mm thickness to bottom of lasts.
These barefoot lasts have a good footprint, but too much volume for me feet so I filled the extra space with an imitation Birkenstock style cork footbed.
@cobblerbud on Instagram
Availability: Custom
Lead Time: 26 days
I made these because I wanted a pair of Birkenstock Bostons to wear around the house and shop, but made out of veg tan leather and built with a proper stitched construction and leather outsoles. I designed them as wholecut mules as this was a lot more fun and challenging to make than a half shoe.
I can always count on EU size 43 fitting my footprint, but having low volume feet I lasted them with an extra 1/4" thickness added to the bottom of the barefoot lasts, then removed the lasts and transfered the uppers onto the cork footbeds which are thicker than 1/4" which reduced the overall volume to the point where they were almost too snug but fit very well, especially after breaking in the stiff leather soles.
Home made. I am a cobbler and aspiring shoemaker so building these was a significant experiment and great learning opportunity.