All images courtesy of Stefano Casati

In a day and age where we are ruled by technology, many art forms have been lost simply due to the natural progression of society. And it is a shame. What we once revered or felt proud to have as a skill is now often shadowed by the latest iPhone or some other gadget to make our life easier. The air fryer is the perfect example of this for the cooking world. Now you can just pop your food in a magic box and poof, out comes cooked food from technological air. So if that exists, when do we need to cook? That is the question, sadly, that many ask themselves and then really never learn the skill/art of cooking. I really wonder how many under 30 can make a meal from scratch, without using one pre-made ingredient? Probably a lot less than even 20 years ago. I constantly thank my mom for beating this skill into me as a teenager often telling me that many modern women do not cook and that I had to be able to fend for myself. And now, I love cooking and am so thankful to be able to make random dishes that I create from the scraps of the fridge. And now many of you are asking, ‘but what the heck does this have to do with anything on a shoe blog?’ Well, let’s get to that!

For those of you that have been to Florence, Italy, or Italy in general but especially Florence, you know that it is a place where craft and art still live on and in a strong way. The Italians have done well to preserve it even if it is slowly fading away. Yet, one school there has decided that it must live on and is providing courses to ensure it does. And that school is called Schola Academy. I was made aware of them as they recently partnered with Stefano Bemer to help make their Bespoke Shoemaking course much larger and be able to serve more interested individuals, something that Stefano Bemer needed as I know that they were booking out each session and often had crazy long waiting lists. But now, they can take on way more people thanks to Schola Academy and more and more people can learn a trade that must not get lost, a trade that ultimately must grow.

And for those of you in this day and age having this opportunity, you are blessed. I was once a kid looking for an apprenticeship in Italy to learn handmade shoemaking. And I got one but it was purely by a stroke of fate through someone I knew who knew Stefano Bemer. There were no schools back then. They were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that were like pulling a needle out of a haystack to get. And the position only opened every few years as most apprentices last that long. So as fortunate as I was to land my apprentice, I wish there would have been something like Schola Academy back then to at least give an opportunity to the people that were not as fortunate as I was.

Shoemaking is not all that the Schola Academy teaches. In fact, they have 5 main courses (with 3 more on the way) and 4 Summer Programs. And I can only imagine that this is the tip of the iceberg and that they will continue to expand their program, especially if the current courses are a success and I can only imagine that they will be.

So, let’s take a look at them all:

Leathermaking – Leather Bags and Accessories

• Cost: €5.900 (Apprentice level) – €10.800 (Artigiano Level)
• Language: English & Italian
• Duration: 10 Weeks – 20 Weeks
• Modalities: Monday – Friday 8 hours a day
• Locations: Florence, SCHOLA Academy
• Starting Date: August 22nd 2022 or February 6th 2023

Excerpt from the site:

SCUOLA DEL CUOIO IS THE LEADING ACADEMY FOR BESPOKE LEATHER BAGS AND ACCESSORIES. Courses are designed with a focus on the technical aspects of bag making, particularly in the areas of pattern-making and construction process. The aim is to provide students with the skills to realize their ideas and creativity into an actual finalized product. Long-term Programs are offered at the Apprentice Level (10 weeks long) and Artigiano Level (semester long) to students who wish to undertake a practical program to become leather artisans.

Learn more: https://www.schola.academy/scuoladelcuoio/

Bespoke Shoemaking Course

• Cost: €8.000 (Apprentice level) – €13.800 (Artigiano Level)
• Language: English & Italian
• Duration: 10 Weeks – 20 Weeks
• Modalities: Monday – Friday 8 hours a day
• Locations: Florence, SCHOLA Academy
• Starting Date: April 26th  or August 22nd

Excerpt from the site:

The late Stefano Bemer committed his short yet bright career to mastering his unique blend of shoemaking techniques and create what he wanted to become the perfect Italian men’s shoe. This quest to develop his own idea of perfection has led to accomplishments that have been recognized and acclaimed by connoisseurs all around the world. This would have been enough for most people. However, great people in history understand that it is not just about themselves, in the here and now, but also about their legacy and the impact they have on others. With this in mind, Stefano Bemer is committed to training artisans and transmitting its own legacy of quality and style.

The program is composed of three stages to be completed over the course of a year. The first, introductory stage – called Apprentice – is for students who wish to acquire the basic skill-set and knowledge-base of hand-made shoemaking. This program lasts 10 weeks. The Artigiano Level is a semester-long program (that includes the Apprentice level) that enable students to have a complete shoemaking profile.

This path must be completed before progressing to the Maestro level which can be undertaken only upon invitation of a master artisan.

Learn more: https://www.schola.academy/stefanobemershoes/

Culinary Academy Program

• Cost: €5.900 (Apprentice level) – €10.800 (Artigiano Level)
• Language: English & Italian
• Duration: 10 Weeks – 20 Weeks
• Modalities: Monday – Friday 8 hours a day
• Locations: Florence
• Starting Date: August 22nd 2022 or February 6th 2023

Excerpt from the site:

Students will explore topics such as sustainability, ethical and health issues related to food production, consumption and quality. Cibrèo Culinary Academy is not strictly a Tuscan or ltalian cooking school, it’s a unique culinary concept. Its vision, method and philosophy can be transferred and applied anywhere in the world. Students coming from abroad and planning to work or set up a food business, will be able to put into practice their knowledge and experience worldwide. The course will be held twice a year.

Learn More: https://www.schola.academy/food-artisan/

 

Ceramics Craft Course

• Cost: €5.200 (Apprentice level) – €9.500 (Artigiano Level)
• Language: English & Italian
• Duration: 10 Weeks – 20 Weeks
• Modalities: Monday – Friday 8 hours a day
• Locations: Florence, SCHOLA Academy
• Starting Date:  August 22nd 2022 or February 6th 2023

Excerpt from the site:

SCHOLA, in collaboration with NICCOLÒ POGGI FIRENZE, created Ceramic Crafts, a training course where the classic pottery craft meets digital design, modern art and industrial production. Our aim is to create a new, contemporary generation of potters, able to translate tradition into the most up- to-date perspectives, exploring new ways of being today’s modern artisans. Ceramic Crafts is a creative Lab where to learn, imagine and put together different approaches, unexpected mixes and new experimental ideas.

Learn More: https://www.schola.academy/handmade-hats/

Handmade Hats Course

• Cost: €4.500 (Apprentice level) – €9.500 (Artigiano Level)
• Language: English & Italian
• Duration: 7 Weeks – 20 Weeks
• Modalities: Monday – Friday 8 hours a day
• Locations: Florence, SCHOLA Academy
• Starting Date: August 22nd 2022 or February 6th 2023

Excerpt from the site:

Students will live a unique and inspirational learning experience with one of the most renowned contemporary hat brands. They will learn how to hand-make and design several and different kinds of hats, with different shapes, styles and workmanships, will study how to manage different materials and trims, following both tradition and current trends, always combining love and care for the detail with a modern, creative and sustainable approach. The course is divided in 2 modules, the Apprentice Level (7 weeks long) and the Artigiano Level (17 weeks long, including the Apprentice Level).

Learn More: https://www.schola.academy/handmade-hats/

There are 3 more main courses coming soon:

1. Fashion Making
2. Handmade Women’s Shoes
3. Online Craft Courses

Lastly, there are the shorter Summer Courses. You can find them below.

1. Custom Handmade Sneakers: https://www.schola.academy/custom-sneakers/
2. Sustainable Leather Experience: https://www.schola.academy/sustainable-leather-experience/
3. Cibreo Food Experience: https://www.schola.academy/cibreo-food-experience/
4. Make Your Own Bag Experience: Coming soon

If you have always wanted to travel to Italy, live there, and really soak up all that it has to offer all while learning an important craft and having an experience of a lifetime, then you must look into Schola Academy and sign up to the next course available. I am sure that they will go quickly as more and more people seem to want to get their hands dirty (literally) by learning a craft instead of traditional schooling in front of a computer! And rightfully so!

Learn more and all it has to offer: https://www.schola.academy/

All images courtesy of Stefano Casati