Chinese Shoemaker, JIANG Daoyuan

The title of an article is a person’s name, what does that mean? Am I writing a biography for him? No, I think he may be a microcosm of many Chinese shoemakers who moves people.

What does JIANG Daoyuan do?

He is the founder of the brand Badia and the actual creator of shoe lasts and styles.

What’s special about JIANG Daoyuan?

He studied shoemaking with ZHAO Ruoda in Stefano Bemer Studio in Italy, stayed for about 2 years, and practiced bespoke shoes for a period of time after returning to China. Currently bespoke shoemaking is only used as a personal hobby to communicate with friends.

Why is it moving?

He lives in Qingdao, and Badia did not participate in 2021 China Trunk Show on June 26-27, but he suddenly appeared on the scene on the afternoon of June 26, and helped Oct Tenth to demonstrate the classic handmade way of lasting and sewing.

I was pleasantly surprised because he added brink to the Trunk Show event, with more fun, professionalism and presentation.

He chatted with me with a few words to express his gratitude to me about hosting this event, but I can fully feel his emotions.

After 11 o’clock in the evening, he sent me a message on WeChat, saying that he would go back tomorrow. I asked why he was in such a hurry, and he said that he saw other people’s shoes at the scene, felt that there was a lot to learn, and wanted to go back and improve his shoes immediately!

After the event, he talked to me again expressing his support for this event, and said that he was particularly emotional.

What do I see from all this? It’s his strong emotion about making shoes, and it’s an obsession. All he wanted was to get the shoes right, and the purpose is not to make Badia sell more.

JIANG Daoyuan is just a silhouette of many shoemakers in China at present, the other two attending this event also let me have the same experience.

One is the seventh place in the shoe competition, ZHAO Zhun.

As a person who has not been learning to make shoes for a long time, he dares to join the contest which should definitely not be ridiculed. He is also very clear about what he has not done well, but he is very happy to hear the master’s comments.

At the same time, his plans and study of shoes are completely from the heart, and have nothing to do with the business. It’s not that he’s free of financial pressure, he just loves the trade.

The other is WANG Zhencheng, who makes the seamless whole with shell cordovan, from the comments of the judges, I have to say that he is a real master, but more importantly, his passion and pride, his dedication and enthusiasm!

Whether stitched shoes in China is a sunrise or a sunset industry, our population determines that it can always accommodate people with lofty ideals, and these shoemakers who have emotions are the real treasure of the industry.