Bespoke Shoes for “The Coolest People Ever”
Leanne Corcoran in her studio on Western Avenue in Pike Place Market
In the past decade, Leanne Corcoran transformed her undying passion for shoes into a top-notch hub for bespoke shoes in Seattle, known as Leolo. This idea took root during her high school days in Minnesota, where she would thrift shoes, customize them with paint, and sell them to her friends. Among the styles she sold, brogues held a special place in her heart. Despite the difficulty in finding women's versions, she was undeterred, even rocking an ill-fitting pair of black brogues her mom bought her.
“I decided, ‘It’s time to make shoes.’ I googled “shoemaking class Seattle” and found a weekend course at Pratt Fine Arts Center. The teacher was fabulous and the process felt like my second nature. I asked her if she needed an apprentice and the deal was made on the spot.”
Custom dyed, oxblood wingtip with Harris tweed vamp.
Her creativity eventually led her to earn an MFA in painting, exhibit her work in New York and Chicago, and even establish a small interior design studio in Seattle. However, her fascination with shoes only deepened. She took up a shoemaking course at Pratt Fine Arts Center, where she found the process second nature. This experience led her to become an apprentice to her instructor, thereby stepping into the world of professional shoemaking.
Diving deep into the age-old craft of creating bespoke shoes, Leanne went to Santa Fe for intensive 14-day training. This intricate process involves 220 individual steps and takes 40 hours to create each pair of entirely handmade, custom shoes.
A 50/50 mix of men and women
Today, Leanne's clientele at Leolo comprises an equal mix of men and women, spanning various age groups. She enjoys the unique opportunity shoes provide to reflect one's character and pushes her design boundaries to suit her clients' individual styles. For instance, she crafted a bright green pair of fully brogued derbies for a client's holiday outfit, adding a unique touch to the ensemble.
With Leolo, Leanne identified a significant demand for high-quality, well-fitting, and sustainably made custom shoes. Leolo offers a selection of derby and oxford styles, each customizable right down to the color of the upper, welt, liner, and sole, toe shape, toe cap, and broguing.
Black calfskin cap-toe oxford with a custom-dyed red sole and laces to match.
A demand for high quality, long-lasting, well-fitting shoes
She also ensures the durability of her designs by using high-quality materials, including responsibly sourced, full-grain cowhide leather, steel shanks, and Vibram soles, ensuring that Leolo shoes last a lifetime.
Leanne's shoemaking studio is located within the Pike Place Market, amongst a host of other women-owned businesses. Visitors can peruse a selection of curated leather goods, jewelry, and accessories at the studio. She also collaborates with nearby businesses like the bespoke suit store, Sew Generously, located in Pioneer Square.
Custom dyed, full brogue, cap-toe derby boot
Looking ahead, Leanne is eager to explore the world of heels, a venture requiring new skills. While shoemaking is challenging work, she is excited about this new adventure and has certainly made a mark for herself as a unique and successful women-owned business and artisan. To learn more about Leanne's work or to view the bespoke shoe collections, visit her studio at 1516 Western Ave., on the west side of Pike Place Market, or online at LeoloShoes.com. Follow her on Instagram at @leoloshoes.