Shoe Maker

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Shoe Maker / Footwear Designer (Volunteer – Thread and Promise Fashion Innovation Team)

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division Thread and Promise – Fashion, Innovation/Community Design

Location New York City and/or Remote via Google Meet

Type Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise
Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through creative arts, mentorship, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, storytelling, and community-centered design, MAP creates transformative spaces where young people can thrive.

Thread & Promise
, MAP's fashion and innovation initiative, merges design, culture, social impact, and youth empowerment. The division develops apparel, accessories, and mission-driven fashion pieces—including upcoming footwear concepts—while engaging young people in creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

About The Role
We are seeking a
Shoe Maker / Footwear Designer
to support the development of footwear concepts and prototypes as part of Thread & Promise's expanding design initiatives. This role blends craftsmanship, fashion design, product development, and community impact.

The ideal candidate is passionate about footwear design, sustainability, creative problem-solving, and using craft as a channel for storytelling and empowerment.

This position is perfect for artists, makers, designers, craftspeople, or footwear specialists who want to apply their skills in a mission-driven, youth-centered nonprofit environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and/or construct footwear prototypes for Thread & Promise projects.
• Collaborate with MAP's fashion team, designers, pattern makers, and youth storytellers.
• Assist in researching sustainable, ethical, and mission-aligned materials.
• Support the creation of custom shoes, hand-crafted pieces, or innovative footwear concepts.
• Provide insight into pattern making, lasts, tooling, stitching, and construction techniques.
• Develop sketches, technical drawings, mood boards, or material boards for footwear concepts.
• Mentor youth in hands-on craftsmanship or introductory footwear design (as needed).
• Support design for storytelling projects, exhibitions, fashion showcases, or MAP campaigns.
• Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.
• Take responsibility for performance improvement by integrating feedback and refining design methods.

Qualifications

• Experience in footwear design, shoemaking, cobbling, leatherwork, or related craft.
• Understanding of shoe construction, pattern making, lasts, adhesives, and finishing techniques.
• Strong creative skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate with designers, youth, and cross-functional creative teams.
• Commitment to ethical, sustainable, and culturally responsive design.

Bonus Skills (not Required)

• Experience designing custom footwear or limited-edition pieces.
• Background in sustainable materials, upcycling, or environmentally conscious production.
• Ability to teach or mentor youth in design or craftsmanship.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred).

Commitment

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week.
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred.
• Hybrid In-person in NYC and/or remote via Google Meet.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience innovating in a mission-driven fashion division.
• Opportunities to design footwear pieces connected to culture, storytelling, and youth empowerment.
• Collaboration with MAP's designers, storytellers, youth creators, and fashion innovation teams.
• Portfolio-ready prototypes, concepts, and creative collections.
• Letters of recommendation and strong professional references.
• The fulfillment of creating design that inspires young people and uplifts community stories.

Application Process

Please send your resume, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio or photos of past work to

with the subject line
Shoe Maker / Footwear Designer – Thread & Promise
.

You may also apply directly here

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Craft with purpose — design footwear that tells stories, inspires youth, and advances MAP's mission through creativity and innovation.