It was love at first sight – or rather, first try, after meeting my first pair of Bryr clogs. The gorgeous color palette and uniquely modern styles were enough to make me swoon from afar. But it wasn’t until I actually slipped my foot through the soft, buttery leather and onto the featherweight Linden wood base, at a local boutique, that I fell in love with my first pair of clogs in nearly 15 years. So naturally, I just had to meet the woman behind the shoe and visit her studio. Designer Isobel Schofield‘s light filled workspace, coincidentally housed in a old, former clog factory in San Francisco’s industrial Dogpatch neighborhood, is every bit as detailed and charming as the clogs themselves. And the hands on, customizable experience, for anyone visiting the studio, is just icing on the cake. Clients are encouraged to design their clogs by finding their right size, picking one of two heel heights, choosing from a plethora of leather samples, and then selecting one of several styles – that is, if you can settle on just one. Peep toes, lace ups, slip ons, buckle details, tassels . . . it’s a nearly impossible task. Meanwhile, the clog making process is going underway with Isobel’s small team cutting leather, stapling die-cut patterns to wooden bases, molding leather against lasts and applying hardware. Despite how anxious I am to walk out with with my custom made clogs, witnessing the methodical clog making process makes waiting a few weeks totally bearable. Perfection takes time, after all.

(images by HonestlyWTF & bottom two images courtesy of Bryr; shop Bryr’s summer collection here and visit the studio in person here)