Hemlocks Leatherworks Information

Hemlocks Leatherworks is a one-woman operation based in downtown Duluth, Minnesota. Drawing inspiration from Lake Superiors North Shore, the vast history of traditional shoemaking, and cultures around the world, Candace LaCosse crafts each leather good one at a time, with the finest materials and greatest care. With a degree in graphic design and journalism, Candace has an eclectic professional background in fashion journalism, education and art. She first learned about the fashion, retail and marketing worlds as an editorial and fashion assistant for Mpls.St.Paul and Mpls.St.Paul Weddings magazine. She then went on to live, learn, travel and teach in Asia for two years. With a desire to return to Minnesota and study traditional Scandinavian craft, Candace was accepted into the internship program at North House Folk School, where she made her first pair of shoes, built her first yurt, spent many hot hours in front of the wood-fired oven and fell in love with Black Ash basketry. She then went on to apprentice with master cordwainer Molly Grant of The Cordwainer Shop, a one-hundred year old family business based in Deerfield, New Hampshire. With Grant she participated in American Craft Council and Smithsonian craft shows, as well as private trunk shows in Manhattan. In 2015, Candace was selected as one of eight nationally emerging artists to participate in the American Craft Exposition in Chicago. She was also one of fifty national artists featured in the American Craft Council Holiday gift guide. Her work can be found in boutiques in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul and of course, Duluth. She is also currently an instructor at North House Folk School and a board member of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. Each pair of Hemlocks shoes are made to order. This is to ensure a proper fit and allow for desired customizations. Please wait patiently up to four weeks for your pair of custom-made shoes. Hemlocks are guaranteed to fit. The fit should be a bit snug the first couple of wears as ...