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These shoes weren't made for walking

Updated September 05, 2010 14:36:00

Luna Newby's shoes are more works of art than fashion items.

Source: 7.30 Tasmania | Duration: 3min 49sec

Topics: sculpture, fashion, tas


AIRLIE WARD, PRESENTER: Jimmy Choo may be more famous and Manolo Blahnik's more expensive but one shoe maker in Tasmania is certainly turning heads with her unique designs.

Fiona Breen dropped in on the artist to have a look at some of her designs likely to stay on the shelf as works of art, never to be worn.

FIONA BREEN, REPORTER: Wood, felt, silk, paper and even steel wool are just some of the materials Luna Newby uses to craft shoes.

Some of which carry price tags of up to $800.

They're wearable but they're not really for sale, they're works of art.

LUNA NEWBY, SHoeMAKER: This is paper.

I don't know how long the paper would hold out to be perfectly truthful but they definitely are, they're quite strong.

I just loved shaping this. It was just such a joy.

And this the soles of this came together in one day which I was pretty amazed by.

FIONA BREEN: In a small studio nestled amongst the hills of Allens Rivulet, Luna Newby is passing on her skills as a traditional shoe maker to a small class of show enthusiasts.

They turn up weekly to hone their skills.

What I really love about teaching is that it's like reliving the first time I made a pair of shoes, so it's very exciting.

I like seeing other people relish in that too.

FIONA BREEN: The students are all driven by different motives. For some it's the difficulty of finding shoes that fit. For others it's a new craft to learn.

FEMALE STUDENT: For me, I do things with my hands, I make things so for me it's just another material to use to make something that's very practical, very useful, it's not just something to sit there and look nice, it's useful as well.

FIONA BREEN: But for all in the class it's a hobby that's quickly becoming a passion

MALE STUDENT: I'm a public servant, so this is my creative outlet.

I get to design something and see it done at the end of the day, which is quite rewarding.

FIONA BREEN: Luna Newby has been making shoes for 30 years, starting in the UK where she was traditionally trained.

Her move to Tasmania eight years ago gave her the freedom to teach and develop her shoe making into an art.

LUNA NEWBY: There's a great tradition in shoe making to sort of keep all the information to yourself and that's a very old fashioned idea, I feel now.

Because there aren't many shoe makers and we're very spread out.

I feel like if I don't pass this on it's just going to die out.

FIONA BREEN: She's busy keeping up with a rising level of interest in her classes.

LUNA NEWBY: When I came here I found that people's skill level was much higher, because people have used to making things here.

Generally in Australia but I think especially in Tasmania.

FIONA BREEN: Making works of art that can be worn is her passion.

Her recent exhibition saw demand for some of her more exclusive shoes rise.

LUNA NEWBY: I get my inspiration from all over the place; really, it's a mixture of conservations with people, other artists, things I've read, all sorts of things.

FIONA BREEN: The original works of art, however, won't tread the foot paths any time soon. They will stay on the shelves in her studio, inspiration for Luna Newby and her pupils.

LUNA NEWBY: I do love shoes and I always have done.