Entry No. 75 — the Chicago file — filed under: hands-on
Chicago School of Shoemaking & Leather Arts
Founded by master cobbler Sara McIntosh, who has personally made more than 10,000 pairs of shoes, this working leather-arts school teaches total beginners to cut, stitch, and last their own boots and sandals — its current signature offering is a five-day course where you build your own pair of Air Jordan 1 sneakers from scratch.
The story
Sara McIntosh started making her own footwear back in the 1970s out of practical necessity during a homesteading self-sufficiency push—building log cabins and hand-shaping her own wooden mallets before attempting her first pair of shoes. After four decades and over 10,000 hand-cobbled pairs, she launched the Chicago School of Shoemaking in 2011 to pass on a trade that mass production came dangerously close to erasing.
Tucked into Suite 113 of a converted Ravenswood industrial building, the school bypasses superficial crafting tricks. You are handed real cobbler gear: wooden shoe lasts, edge bevelers, heavy skiving knives, and industrial sewing machines built to punch through thick vegetable-tanned hides.
While single-session workshops teach you how to cut and stitch leather clutches or fit custom sandals, the school's signature offering is a five-day intensive where you reconstruct iconic footwear like Air Jordan 1 sneakers from raw materials to sole attachment. You leave with functional, custom-fit footwear built entirely with your own hands.
What it's like
Stepping into Suite 113, the space smells sharply of veg-tan hide, cement, and leather stain. You will be working at industrial benches loaded with cobbler mallets, punch tools, and wooden lasts. If you take a multi-day shoemaking course, prepare for sore fingers from pulling leather taut over lasts and punching hand-stitch holes. Wear clothes you do not mind getting glue or stain on, and bring a clear idea of what you want to make while leaving room for the natural quirks of the raw hide.
The move: Take Leatherwork 101 or their explicitly named "Date Night" class side by side at the workbench — Yelp reviewers specifically describe taking the class with a partner for an anniversary and walking out with a self-made clutch or pair of sandals.
- 📍 Ravenswood
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3717 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 113, Chicago, IL 60613
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Lightwriters Neon — Pair your leatherworking with a neon tube-bending class down the block in Ravenswood to double down on rare industrial craft skills.
- Chicago Glass Collective — Located six blocks away in Ravenswood, this studio lets you trade cobbler mallets and leather knives for glass kilns and torches.
- Music Box Theatre Midnight Movies — Head half a mile east to this 1929 movie palace to rest your hand-stitching fingers under a ceiling rigged like a night sky.
- Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum — Walk seven blocks northeast after class for a quiet outdoor stroll among Victorian monuments to stretch your legs after hours at the workbench.
Good to know
Do I need any previous leatherworking experience?
No. All introductory workshops, including Leatherwork 101, Date Night, and beginner shoemaking classes, are structured for complete novices with step-by-step guidance.
What kind of finished goods can I make?
Depending on the course you pick, you can make items ranging from small leather goods like belts and clutches to custom sandals, lasted leather boots, or custom-built Air Jordan 1 sneakers.
Can I walk in, or do I need to register in advance?
You must register in advance online. Classes have fixed bench capacities to ensure everyone gets personal instruction and access to tools.
How does the Date Night class work?
You and a partner work side-by-side at the workbench during a dedicated evening session, each leaving with a finished handmade leather item like a clutch, belt, or pair of sandals.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · YouTube · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-19