One of the huge advantages of (high-end) designer shoes is customisation. Do you have any plans for this? I like the look of your shoes and was considering buying however I didn't like either colour of leather. One of the things I love about Berluti is that their off the shelf range can still be purchased in a huge variety of leathers (or patina) and can still be customised to an extent. If you're building these shoes from scratch, I'm sure you'll be able to do even more.

Ignoring my slight complaint above, I love what you're doing - it seems you will be able to really make a difference, good luck!