NEW: Andrew McDonald RTW 2011

For most women, the only thing better than a new pair of shoes is a new pair of hand crafted, limited edition shoes. Meet Andrew McDonald. The man is one of the country’s finest bespoke shoemakers for men and women.

Should you not have the opportunity to commission a pair of custom, made-to-measure kicks from Mr McDonald, take a look at his brand new ready-to-wear collection of limited edition styles, finished using bespoke techniques.

The beauty of McDonald’s designs is that sustainability has built into every aspect of construction. Eschewing large-scale machine production for age-old, handmade skills keeps the output of shoes and carbon from his Sydney studio at a minimum. Leathers are sustainably farmed and tanned without chemicals, for superior, long-lasting results. All footwear is free from chemical solvents and finished with water based glue.

McDonald prefers leather to synthetic textiles for its durability. For the same reason, he keeps styles quite traditional—with his own clever design touches—so that they remain desirable and wearable for a decade to come. By the time they need replacing, Andrew McDonald will likely still be toiling in his workshop providing alternatives to short-lived, trend-driven footwear mass-produced by cheap labour and big machines.

How big is Andrew McDonald’s eco? Visit the designer profile for more details and pictures from his RTW 2011 range.