Meet The Tastemakers

These four tastemakers tell Annabel Tan what drives their passion and how they enhance and even transform our lifestyle through their unique areas of expertise.

- Annabel Tan

JOSHUA LEONG

Founder and Head Bespoke Shoemaker of Josh Leong; Co-Founder and Head Shoemaker of Palola; Founder of Heirloom by Josh Leong

When one thinks of a shoemaker, one would hardly picture a young, fresh-faced Singaporean like 34-year-old Joshua Leong. But to eliminate any doubt, just take a look at his hands. They are the blistered, and often glue- and dye-covered hands of a craftsman; one who has worked relentlessly over the last five years to launch three artisanal footwear brands that specialise in handcrafted and bespoke leather shoes.

His eponymous brand, Josh Leong, offers made-to-order and bespoke leather dress shoes for men that are not just entirely handcrafted, but also made using what is often considered the Rolls-Royce of all shoe construction – the hand-welted construction. This is a laborious method of hand-stitching the outsoles to the rest of the shoe that significantly contributes to the average 70 to 90 hours it takes Joshua to complete a pair of shoes. Unsurprisingly, he is the only shoemaker in Singapore that makes hand-welted made-to-order and bespoke footwear.

SAVOIR FAIRE

Such commitment to the craft stems from a long-time love for leather, which began with leather-crafting. As a hobby, Joshua would make small accessories from scrap leather he sourced from furniture upholsterers and by learning from books and information online.