Processes of my handmade Malaysian-themed decorative pointe shoes (not provide proper balancing and support the dancer’s arch)

First of all, I used a motorized cutter to cut the part that I had chosen for my toe box.

After that, my brother tidied the edges to make it even and look like a toe box.

Next, I used a grinder to make the platform of the toe box flat and smooth.

After that I took a pair of men’s leather shoes and cut out the top part of the shoes. I also removed the soles of the shoes, because they were too thick. With a white marker, I drew and cut out from the leather, the vamp of the decorative pointe shoes.

Out of the same piece of leather, I measured and cut out the heel, toe box, vamp and inner arch shank.

The next step is to sew the different parts to form the pointe shoes.

After finishing the basic parts of the shoes, I started decorating the shoes. 

I sewed two pieces of the silk fabric [left photo] starting from the throat, then I adjusted the silk to make the platform and pleating. 

For the inner side of the pointe shoes, I attached Malaysian “Batik” fabric.

Around the pointe shoes I sewed Malay lace, beads and ribbons.

Lastly I sewed and pasted the feather, ribbon string and butterfly.

The feather represents the furs of swan, a popular symbol of ballet. The green butterfly represents the Rajah Brooke, a butterfly found in Malaysia. I also choose green because it is the colour of Islam, the official religion of Malaysia.

Finally, my pointe shoes are done.