Carmina Shoemaker is back at it, bringing its 3D bespoke service on tour across America this October. And this time, they are going bigger, with stops in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
I have personally experienced Carmina’s 3D bespoke service, and I have to say, it makes one very well-fitting shoe.
That might sound like an obvious statement when talking about bespoke footwear, but those who have followed me for a long time will know that my feet are not particularly easy to fit. Strangely enough, I am one of those people who have often found that I fit certain ready-to-wear lasts better than some bespoke shoes I have had made in the past.
So when Carmina made my pair using its 3D scanning system, I was genuinely impressed by the result. The fit was phenomenal, and the shoes turned out even better than I expected. And that is certainly not a slight against Carmina—it is simply a reflection of how difficult my feet can be.
Jesper of Shoegazing also went through the process and had a similarly positive experience, which is noteworthy because he, too, is not exactly the easiest person to fit.
Carmina’s 3D Bespoke Service
What makes Carmina’s approach interesting is the technology behind it.
Rather than relying solely on traditional measurements, your feet are scanned using Carmina’s large 3D scanning machine, capturing millions of measurement points. That information is then sent back to their factory in Inca, Mallorca, where an individual last is created for each foot, and the pattern is adapted accordingly.
From there, you essentially have the opportunity to create the Carmina shoe you want around a last specifically made for your feet.
The machine itself is also a substantial piece of equipment, so it is not something Carmina can simply bring everywhere. That makes these touring opportunities particularly interesting. Their bespoke service will be available not only in New York, but also in Chicago and San Francisco during this October tour.
Bespoke pricing starts at $1,750, so naturally it is a jump from Carmina’s standard ready-to-wear pricing. But for someone struggling to achieve the fit they want from ready-to-wear—or simply wanting the experience of creating something completely personal—it offers an interesting middle ground between modern technology and traditional shoemaking.
Carmina Bespoke at the Horween Factory
The Chicago stop is where this particular tour gets especially interesting.
Carmina will be holding its appointments inside the Horween Leather Company tannery on October 22nd and 23rd.
For anyone interested in shoes and leather, that alone makes this a pretty special opportunity.
Horween has been tanning leather in Chicago since 1905 and is, of course, one of the most famous names in the world when it comes to shell cordovan. Carmina has had a longstanding relationship with Horween and has used its shell extensively throughout its collections.
So here you have two historic family businesses coming together: Horween, now in its fifth generation, and Carmina, whose shoemaking history in Mallorca dates back to 1866 and is now in its sixth.
And if you decide to have a pair made in shell cordovan, the experience becomes even more unique. You are effectively being measured for your bespoke Carmina shoes in the very tannery producing the leather that can ultimately become those shoes.
Of course, ordering cordovan is not mandatory. You can still take advantage of the bespoke service and choose another leather. But if you have ever wanted a bespoke pair of Carmina shell cordovan shoes, it would be difficult to imagine a more fitting place to start the process.
It is also worth noting that Horween does not ordinarily offer public factory tours, making Carmina’s presence there particularly unusual.
Three Cities, One Bespoke Experience
Outside of Chicago, Carmina will offer the same 3D bespoke service at its own stores in New York and San Francisco.
New York
Monday, October 19 – Wednesday, October 21, 2026 · 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Carmina Shoemaker, 45 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017
Book an appointment in New York
Chicago
Thursday, October 22 – Friday, October 23, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Horween Leather Company, 2015 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Book an appointment in Chicago
San Francisco
Sunday, October 25 – Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Carmina Shoemaker, 54 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Book an appointment in San Francisco
Appointments are thirty minutes, and availability is limited.
Having gone through the process myself, I can comfortably say that I was impressed with the result. The fit of my pair was excellent, the shoes came out beautifully, and the entire concept is a clever combination of modern scanning technology with Carmina’s traditional shoemaking.
If you happen to live in or around one of these three cities, mark your calendars. And if you were already considering traveling for an appointment, I would make your plans sooner rather than later.
The Chicago stop in particular feels like one of those opportunities that does not come around very often: getting your feet scanned for a one-of-a-kind pair of Carmina shoes while standing inside the Horween tannery itself.
For the shoe enthusiast, that is a pretty cool way to start a pair of shoes.
Learn more here: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/us/en/bespoke-shoes
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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