We’re thrilled to announce that Arsutoria School together with the University of Oregon Sports Product Management program is bringing a world-class workshop to Portland, Oregon—uniting our shared passion for innovation and excellence in footwear design and manufacturing.
Why a new workshop in Portland, OR for the development of footwear professionals?
After more than 10 years of holding workshops in Boston, NYC and LA therefore with proven success of training more than 1000 US professionals and establishing one of the first international professional development workshops in the US, Arsutoria School decided to offer a sneaker focus workshop in Portland, OR being the Portland area a renown hub for athletic footwear.
A new challenge to further advance with our industry-driven training as we commit to the knowledge advancement and success of each participant
How did the collaboration between Arsutoria School and the University of Oregon Sports Product Management master originate?
Thanks to our long-term friendship with Ellen Schmidt-Devlin, who has been a senior executive at Nike for many years and then the director of Sport Management Master at UO, our Senior Technical Director, Paolo Marenghi, had taught a workshop for several years both within the students of the Sports Product Management master program and also industry professionals from most of the athletic footwear brands located in Portland area, bringing in, his expertise on technical footwear and finally designing the “O” Sneaker which was the prototype exercise of the workshop and then became one of the trademarks of the master. As a matter of fact we are very proud about it.
This collaboration gave us the opportunity to start a significant relationship so our current partnership on performance footwear is a natural evolution.
We actually believe we will bring an added value to the Portland-based footwear professional community, a training that industry professionals yearn for.
Here’s what you can expect:
This immersive workshop is perfect for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in performance footwear.
- Expert-Led Training – Learn from top footwear professionals, including Arsutoria School’s Paolo Marenghi and industry expert Andrea Montagna.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers from various sectors of the industry and build meaningful, professional relationships.
- Hands-On Experience – Design, stitch, and assemble your own sneaker prototype in the University of Oregon’s Innovation Lab.
- Industry-Driven Curriculum – Master essential skills in last analysis, materials, constructions, and outsole development, tailored for performance footwear.
- Global Expertise – Benefit from Arsutoria School’s 78-year legacy and its success in training over 1,000 U.S. professionals.
- Whether you’re in sales, retail, finance, design, development, buying, merchandising, HR, or materials, this workshop is designed to bridge the gap between the technical and the practical.
Participants will embark on an in-depth journey, covering every stage of the shoemaking process:
- Shoe last analysis to understand fit and functionality.
- Upper design and an exploration of diverse upper materials.
- Outsole analysis, examining both technical and aesthetic characteristics.
- Insights into the mould-making process and the creation of outsoles.
Categories to be explored:
- Lifestyle
- Running
- Basketball
- Trail Running
- Hiking
In our recent sold-out sessions in Boston, we welcomed professionals from brands like Vans, New Balance, Timberland, Clarks, Vibram, and many more. Attendees walked away with hands-on knowledge of every footwear construction type, insights into materials and sourcing, and connections with peers from across the industry.
Spaces are limited, and we encourage early registration here for the May 12th – 16th 2025 workshop to secure your spot. If you or your colleagues are ready to take the next step in understanding the world of footwear from the inside out, please contact us or visit our website to register.