I'm newer to pointe but have tried Bloch, Suffolk, and Freed. So far the Bloch euro balance is best but I sense I haven't finished my pointe shoe journey yet! I love hearing other people's experiences with shoes, great video!
I’m sorry this will be a long comment but I think I can help shed some light on your custom Freeds, the markings on the sole, and custom Freed options for any interested readers. I have worn custom Freed of London shoes for more than 15 years and it certainly is a process…even when just tweaking with one style and maker! I don’t know if this will be of any help but here is what the markings on you shoe mean: Size: 6 XX (Freed are UK sizing so a 6 would equate to roughly a US 8.5, XX is a med/wide Freed shoe width) Maker (the cobbler who assembles the shoe and shapes the block): Castle Heel Pin: A heel pin adds a 1/4 size to the length of you shoe, so really your shoes is a 6.25 in length Wing: A wing block means there is extra paste in the block and wings and the wings extend higher than stock classics, plus the vamp tends to be longer unless specified to be a certain length by the dancer), a wing block does not change or dictate a particular box shape or change a cobblers box shape) Forteflex: This is a custom order, harder shank with a flatter bottom (less of a ridge in center) than the 1.5 or 2.5 shank that comes on a stock Freed classic. The are even harder shanks than Forteflex but this is a very common shank for professional custom orders when a dancer needs more support from their shoe Fabric sides and heel: As you mentioned, and one can tell by looking at the shoe you have, the sides are cut down and the heel kept higher, in addition you have opted for an elastic drawstring instead of a cotton one Year Shoe Made: 2019 (On a custom order Freed always stamps on the specific month/date/year that the shoe was made on, but you can also tell by the letter stamped on the bottom of the heel since not all Freed points have an ink month/year stamp. So an S=2018, T=2019, U=2020, etc. This is actually important to know because as time passes the glue/paste used in the box will gradually dry out and become less elastic and the paste used throughout the shoe can get crumbly and loose its strength. If you ever purchase shoes from a source other than a Freed retailer make sure you check the date stamp or the letter stamped on the heel so you aren’t buying shoes made 10+ years ago that probably are more fit to a craft project. I hope this information helps you or other dancers who are wearing Freeds, or anyone trying to navigate the seemingly unending customizations you can make to your special order. Best of luck to you in your dancing career and the great “perfect” pointe shoe quest! (It is probably way too much information but I wear a Freed 6.5 XX maker T, Wineglass, or Maltese Cross with a heel pin, Wing Block, Forteflex, EPOT (extra piece on tip-extra piece of hessian on tip for a longer lasting platform), a shortened vamp, cut down sides and heel, plus I have my shank 3/4’d and no seat tack. And I can’t talk about pointe shoes and not mention that I wear custom PerfectPointe toe pads, Bunheads Flexors ribbons, and Gaynor Minden invisible elastics. Everything works together to allow you to dance your best!)
Just a suggestion-and only a suggestion regarding your custom Freed pointes. Think about doing a video about the parts making up a pointe shoe-shank (inner and outer), vamps, wings, platform, throat, sole, box, drawstring, etc. What were the parts of the pointe shoes you got customized, you did touch on less fabric on yours on the sides of your Freed pointes.
Ironically, I just got my first pointe shoes, and they tried to put me into a Russian pointe before I remembered your video, and I asked for a freed, and It's the exact same shape as my foot, and I'm having a much better time than many people in my class, so thanks for this video!
So when I first got pointe shoes in 2006 they were Capezio's (sorry don't remember which style) but the lady doing the "fitting" didn't look like she knew what she was doing and literally put all of us in the same Capezio shoe. A couple years ago I fell in love with Russian Pointe and those were my shoes until the war against Ukraine broke out and I wasn't able to get my custom Russian Pointe shoes (it literally would take like almost 6-7mo to arrive). I ended up going back to Capezio and going with the Ava's (which I love) but I wanted to try other brands to see if there was a shoe that I liked other than that. I tried both Freeds and Bloch and Bloch is a hard no, it's constantly pulling me off my box and it just doesn't look good on my feet. With Freeds I started with the Studio then went to the Classic Pro 90 in the maker triangle. I ended up loving Freeds and switching to the Freeds Classic and with the makers triangle/butterfly but I keep my Ava's for when I know I need a shoe to hold up and not be as soft.
i’ve worn bloch (hate), Russian Pointe( i’m so scared of russian pointe shoes they are BRICKS), nikolay(wore for two classes.), and SUFFOLKS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What pointe shoes do you wear?!
Have worn Capezio, Freed, Grishko (now known as Nikolay) and Gaynor Minden pointe shoes. 🩰
@@ChiaraJade811 amazing!
I'm newer to pointe but have tried Bloch, Suffolk, and Freed. So far the Bloch euro balance is best but I sense I haven't finished my pointe shoe journey yet!
I love hearing other people's experiences with shoes, great video!
Thanks so much!
Russian pointe Rubin radiance :)
I’m sorry this will be a long comment but I think I can help shed some light on your custom Freeds, the markings on the sole, and custom Freed options for any interested readers. I have worn custom Freed of London shoes for more than 15 years and it certainly is a process…even when just tweaking with one style and maker!
I don’t know if this will be of any help but here is what the markings on you shoe mean:
Size: 6 XX (Freed are UK sizing so a 6 would equate to roughly a US 8.5, XX is a med/wide Freed shoe width)
Maker (the cobbler who assembles the shoe and shapes the block): Castle
Heel Pin: A heel pin adds a 1/4 size to the length of you shoe, so really your shoes is a 6.25 in length
Wing: A wing block means there is extra paste in the block and wings and the wings extend higher than stock classics, plus the vamp tends to be longer unless specified to be a certain length by the dancer), a wing block does not change or dictate a particular box shape or change a cobblers box shape)
Forteflex: This is a custom order, harder shank with a flatter bottom (less of a ridge in center) than the 1.5 or 2.5 shank that comes on a stock Freed classic. The are even harder shanks than Forteflex but this is a very common shank for professional custom orders when a dancer needs more support from their shoe
Fabric sides and heel: As you mentioned, and one can tell by looking at the shoe you have, the sides are cut down and the heel kept higher, in addition you have opted for an elastic drawstring instead of a cotton one
Year Shoe Made: 2019 (On a custom order Freed always stamps on the specific month/date/year that the shoe was made on, but you can also tell by the letter stamped on the bottom of the heel since not all Freed points have an ink month/year stamp. So an S=2018, T=2019, U=2020, etc. This is actually important to know because as time passes the glue/paste used in the box will gradually dry out and become less elastic and the paste used throughout the shoe can get crumbly and loose its strength. If you ever purchase shoes from a source other than a Freed retailer make sure you check the date stamp or the letter stamped on the heel so you aren’t buying shoes made 10+ years ago that probably are more fit to a craft project.
I hope this information helps you or other dancers who are wearing Freeds, or anyone trying to navigate the seemingly unending customizations you can make to your special order.
Best of luck to you in your dancing career and the great “perfect” pointe shoe quest!
(It is probably way too much information but I wear a Freed 6.5 XX maker T, Wineglass, or Maltese Cross with a heel pin, Wing Block, Forteflex, EPOT (extra piece on tip-extra piece of hessian on tip for a longer lasting platform), a shortened vamp, cut down sides and heel, plus I have my shank 3/4’d and no seat tack. And I can’t talk about pointe shoes and not mention that I wear custom PerfectPointe toe pads, Bunheads Flexors ribbons, and Gaynor Minden invisible elastics. Everything works together to allow you to dance your best!)
This was awesome!!! Thank you!
Josephine from the pointe shop should react to this!
What a good idea! She would be horrified by my freed customs description. Lol
I was about to say, next stop, Goldie is a guest on The Pointe Shop! Maybe your comment is the step ahead of mine? ;-)
@@wastrouss now that would be fun
@Malani O'Brien I agree!
Just a suggestion-and only a suggestion regarding your custom Freed pointes. Think about doing a video about the parts making up a pointe shoe-shank (inner and outer), vamps, wings, platform, throat, sole, box, drawstring, etc. What were the parts of the pointe shoes you got customized, you did touch on less fabric on yours on the sides of your Freed pointes.
Great idea!
Ironically, I just got my first pointe shoes, and they tried to put me into a Russian pointe before I remembered your video, and I asked for a freed, and It's the exact same shape as my foot, and I'm having a much better time than many people in my class, so thanks for this video!
You're right, heel pin adds a 1/4 size! ;)
The real expert right here!! Thanks Dom 😂 I’m a poser
So when I first got pointe shoes in 2006 they were Capezio's (sorry don't remember which style) but the lady doing the "fitting" didn't look like she knew what she was doing and literally put all of us in the same Capezio shoe. A couple years ago I fell in love with Russian Pointe and those were my shoes until the war against Ukraine broke out and I wasn't able to get my custom Russian Pointe shoes (it literally would take like almost 6-7mo to arrive). I ended up going back to Capezio and going with the Ava's (which I love) but I wanted to try other brands to see if there was a shoe that I liked other than that. I tried both Freeds and Bloch and Bloch is a hard no, it's constantly pulling me off my box and it just doesn't look good on my feet. With Freeds I started with the Studio then went to the Classic Pro 90 in the maker triangle. I ended up loving Freeds and switching to the Freeds Classic and with the makers triangle/butterfly but I keep my Ava's for when I know I need a shoe to hold up and not be as soft.
I've worn mirella Pointe shoes, capezio Pointe shoes, and I'm currently bloch Pointe shoes and I'm loving them so far!
amazing!
I slept with my first pointe shoes and I’m 60 . They were griskho 🌷
i’ve worn bloch (hate), Russian Pointe( i’m so scared of russian pointe shoes they are BRICKS), nikolay(wore for two classes.), and SUFFOLKS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
how do u order custom freeds?
It is QUITE the process. I was lucky enough to go through my ballet company. Im not entirely sure what the process would be as an individual.
Lol as an sab girl in freeds i dont know what some of that means either
What maker are your customs?
I have tried a bunch but my favorite are fish, castles, or crowns!