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

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 hr@mentorapromise.org with the subject line: Shoe Maker / Footwear Designer – Thread & Promise.

You may also apply directly here:

https://forms.gle/ptgy2zBZXJB1q7GV8

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