Nafi Mustafa

Shoes have always been an integral part of any fashion story, conveying concisely the influences and moods of the era. This introductory course will include a history of footwear, an introduction to the last, drawing and designing for different types of footwear, presentation techniques, sole design and upper materials. The course ends with a practical design exercise to illustrate the interactive nature of footwear design and fashion with basic construction used in the footwear industry. Due to the technicalities and processes of this course you must have good spoken English skills.

Nafi Mustafa comes from a small town in Cyprus where he left his home in search of greater things in London. He began his career at an early age working alongside his father a shoemaker and studying at the Cordwainers College in East London where he gained a diploma in footwear design, Royal Society of Arts bursaries and City & Guilds in boot and shoe manufacturing. Following his graduation he ventured to Italy, where he trained at Ars Sutoria and worked in the footwear industry, developing his appreciation of the forms and shapes which is the very heart of the shoemakers expertise and to gain a greater passion for the craft of footwear. Shortly afterwards, due to his talent, energy and determination he started working for luxury brands such as Bally of Switzerland and H&M Raynes. Then he went on to setting up his own design consultancy company based in London, where he provided footwear manufacturers and tanners, both in the UK and overseas with a comprehensive range intelligence and design ideas. He's experience covers both fashion and volume markets in men's, women's and children's footwear.