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Illume Connect

Footwear Competition – Open Division

Footwear Competition – Open Division

$100.00 USD
$100.00 USD
Sale Sold out

Open Footwear Competition

Open class is for all leathercrafters. 

Each leathercrafter may enter up to three pairs of footwear (entry fee required for each entry). The footwear must be made within the past 12 months and be in "new" condition.

  • Footwear made in or during a training is not allowed.

Online entries are open from July 1st-December 20th, 2025

Three judges will independently and separately score each entry based on a universal score sheet. All contestants will receive their score sheets via email after the show.

Footwear must be at the Southwest Leather Masters Competition registration desk at the SOUTH POINT by 5pm Wednesday, January 8th for judging and will remain on display until 5pm Saturday, January 10th.

  • In-person delivery will be Wednesday, January 7th from 9am-5pm.
  • If shipping your footwear entry, it must arrive on or before Friday, January 2 to be eligible for judging. Please ship entries to:
    • IllumEvents
      Attn: Savannah
      95 W Main Street
      Salina, UT 84654
  • If you WILL NOT be present to pick up your entry on Saturday, January 10th at 5pm, please include a RETURN SHIPPING LABEL and any special instructions.

Footwear can be for sale during the competition. Contestants are responsible for all sales.

  • IllumEvents Las Vegas will not take any sales commission. 

Rules

Any Style Accepted: 
All styles welcome—sandal, dress shoe, athletic shoe, boot, mule, clog, etc. 

Primary Material Must Be Leather: 
Leather must be the dominant visible and structural material (e.g., upper, insole, etc.). Non-leather components (rubber soles, laces, hardware) are permitted but must not overshadow the leather craftsmanship. 

Functional and Wearable: 
Footwear must be fully wearable and constructed for real-world use—not just display. Judges may assess fit, flexibility, and construction for durability. 

Handcrafted: 
Entries must demonstrate original craftsmanship. Use of machinery (e.g., sewing machines, skivers) is permitted, but mass-produced or factory-assembled pieces are not allowed. 

Awards 

The Southwest Leather Masters Competition Awards Ceremony will be held at 4pm on Saturday, January 10th in the IllumEvents Las Vegas tradeshow area. 

Each registered tradeshow attendee will cast one vote towards the People’s Choice Award which will be awarded a prize package. 

Please make sure you understand the rules and guidelines as entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Also be sure to study the judging sheet for a full understanding of what will be judged in the competition.  

 

Image courtesy of Zoe Rios

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