The Tap Love Tour Podcast Episode 134: Jacky Li - Passion and Style
Oct 6, 2025
In a captivating chat, Jacky Li, a visionary designer from Canada and founder of SAF Shoes, shares his journey from Hong Kong to the forefront of dance footwear innovation. He explores how vintage jazz fueled his passion for rhythm in shoe design, making them feel like musical instruments. Jacky vividly discusses transforming custom social shoes into a thriving business, adapting during the pandemic, and the intricate balance between comfort and style. His creative process is a beautiful blend of inspiration, collaboration, and the pursuit of dancer-focused design.
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How Vintage Jazz Sparked A Journey
- Jacky first heard vintage jazz at hotel buffets in Hong Kong and later chased that sound into social and solo jazz scenes in Canada.
- That musical discovery led him from piano interest to social dancing and eventually to treating shoes as musical instruments.
A Shoemaker In Eastern Europe Changed Everything
- At an Eastern European dance Jacky sketched shoe ideas then walked into a local shoemaker and made his first custom pairs the same day.
- After wearing them to a Vancouver dance four people immediately asked where he got them and he began making shoes for others.
Pandemic Sparked Tap Shoe Momentum
- Jacky experimented with social dancing sneakers to survive long European dances and later made limited tap shoes that sold out quickly during the pandemic.
- The pandemic pushed demand for his tap designs as people sought new gear and online classes increased interest.