How are ballet slippers made?

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Ballet slippers or pointe shoes are beautiful and delicate. They are also carefully and painstakingly manufactured to create a sturdy yet flexible base for the dancer wearing them.

Main Body of Shoe

Satin is cut into a V-shaped front piece called the vamp and a rear piece called the quarter panel. A pure cotton lining is also cut out to protect the dancer's feet from irritation. The ends of the V on the vamp are sewn together and reinforced by a rayon ribbon. A machine is used to feed the rayon ribbon around the top of the show to form a drawstring that will be used to tighten the shoe around the dancer's foot.

Insole

The newly constructed cotton upper is placed on a wooden form for sizing. Then the cotton lining is nailed to a rigid insole on the bottom of the form. The lining is glued to the insole, and the nails are removed after the glue dries. Excess fabric is cut off.

Toe Box

A papier-mache "toe box" made of fabric and paste is constructed. Cotton is applied to the top of the toe box, and burlap saturated with paste is applied over the cotton, so the box will be able to bear the dancer's full weight, but still move fluidly. The front is squared by hitting it with a hammer then pressing it flat on a slab made of marble. It will be allowed to dry 24 hours, then satin from the main body of the shoe will be glued over the toe box.

Sole

Foam filler is applied to flatten the bottom. Next a suede piece is glued onto the bottom of the shoe.

Sock Liner

A cotton "sock liner" is glued inside the shoe for added comfort.

Source:

A Ballerina's World: About Pointe Shoes

More Information:

Youtube.com: How It's Made-Ballet Slippers

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How are ballet slippers made?

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