The next time you wonder, “Why are pointe shoes so darn expensive?!” re-watch this video. It shows a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic process behind the pretty, shiny pointe shoes that ballet dancers often take for granted. From the initial sketches to the final touches, there is so much attention to detail and manual precision that these artisans invest for each and every shoe they make. In fact, the craftsmen personally stamp their work just as a painter would sign his/hers. Perhaps by appreciating this art we would feel less inclined to start removing nails and banging them against the floor as soon as we remove them from the packaging. But unfortunately, probably not.

How Pointe Shoes Are Made