Mario Dato

Hailing from Calabria, Italy in 1965, Mario Dato has been making shoes for over 50 years. Getting his start in a factory producing children’s shoes, he graduated to designing and crafting bespoke dress and casualwear shoes. His business, Dahto, made shoes for fashion-week (Sydney) and was the go-to shoemaker for numerous famous Australians. Mario taught at TAFE (UTS) for several years in design and fabrication of leather shoes. Mario will share his skills, teaching you how to make elegant practical sandals. His authentic and practical approach to artisanry will inspire confidence in your learning journey.