I would’ve never thought I would enjoy watching a cobbler at work, but was quite impressed at the amount of time and labor it takes to repair a pair of shoes. Not too many of you guys around in this day.
Honestly have never been interested in shoes or shoe repair until the last month or so and have found myself watching and enjoying videos like this. There's something special about watching a trained craftsman take pride in what he's doing and what a transformation!
Brendan Smith, my dad was a master shoe repairman. My dad could take a pair of shoes that looked as though they were ready for the trash and fix them to look like new. He also sold new shoes, cowboy boots, and lineman boots. For some of his customers, it was impossible to purchase a good pair of leather shoes. Daddy would purchase used shoes, repair them to look new, and even his poorest customers could afford a good pair of shoes. My dad was raised on a farm, but farming was not his thing. After WWII, Pop Werner, an old German-born cobbler taught my dad and my uncle the business.
Wow, they did a great job on the shoes but what judgmental a-h*les throughout towards this client giving them hundreds of dollars to fix these shoes. Seriously off-putting. I hope the poor guy never sees this video. What a way to shame clients. No thanks. Prefer to give my business to people who are kind and respectful to others.
So funny. I watched these videos and sometimes it was hard for me to see a shoe stripped down to its parts! I cringed and thought: wow this is like surgery!! Great minds and all that 😉
I love seeing that people wear their shoes out, then RESURRECT them through repair. We wouldn’t have such a huge waste problem if we bought more things that aged well, and if they were MADE to be repaired, in the first place. We’re returning to that, though. Planned obsolescence has had its time. ⏲
@Mo Poppins The whole reason people don’t repair things anymore shoes, clothing and the like, is because it’s actually cheaper to buy new things now. So, it doesn’t make sense to have things repaired unless they’re sentimental. Years ago we didn’t have such luxuries. What you had was what you used until you couldn’t anymore. The world would be a better place if we weren’t so wasteful, but it’s not. I’ve always tried to do my part by taking things I didn’t want anymore and can still be used to charity’s.
Sneakers and “vegan” pleather shoes are not really repairable. Those the most common shoe nowadays unfortunately. Harmful synthetics and sweatshop labor, and ultimately land filled. Sad.
Jon yes, but, what it costs to remake/ refurbish these shoes is a very high cost. The man could have found a brand new pair at discount online. Just sayin that I have looked into doing it with my own shoes and it was too expensive.
My grandfather was a shoe maker. I spent hours watching him stretch leather uppers, hammer on tacks, thread leather lines instead of gluing soles and basically craft shoes from scratch. The smell of his shop is imprinted in my memory, and so is the precision of his craft.
I was so poor growing up in the Philippines … I use to fix my shoes using a scissor and a Glue and some toothbrush to clean it… next day I go to school happy and proud 😊
Your comment brings back memories of me lining the sole of my new "Bakya" or wooden slippers with the rubber interior of tires. I trace the heel and sole and cut the rubber to size and nail it. Made my bakya last longer and looking new. This was in the late 50"s when I was in my elementary school and have to walk about 5 miles to and fro my school. I think they don't make bakya anymore. Regards from your kababayan.
This man’s accent is superb. I usually can’t understand American accents but he sounds so soothing and whimsical like something out of a storybook. I didn’t search for this video but glad it came up. I am going to condition all my shoes and boots now. UK weather isn’t as harsh on leather but rain in the spring and autumn time can discolour and affect the look.
Myself, as an old 'Italian' (actually 3rd. generation American, USA) craftsman, it gives me great satisfaction and comfort to watch such knowledgeable and practiced skill being exercised ... and yet, by a very young man, at that! Kudos!
@@samspianos A. people can start going gray quite young, I had a 17-year-old male student who had gray hairs, and B. compared to an old craftsman, he probably is young. My guess is he's probably in his 40s.
Man the youtube algorithm is on one today. First I found myself clicking on a guy collecting quarters from his laundry mat and now here I am watching 26 minutes of loafers being restored. What a wild ride on the youtube train.
Two months later.... I watched the guy collecting coins from his laundromat, then I watched a guy make a alligator wallet, and now I’m watching this guy fix loafers and I can’t stop watching.
Watching you work has made me realize how much we take for granted in our society. So much care, knowledge, and skills go into the making of shoes and most of us never even think about it. Thank you for enlightening me.
UA-cam is a treasure trove. I didn't even think this kind of content existed, never mind that I wanted it, but it does and I do, so I immediately subbed.
my Dad was a shoe repair man... this brought back so many memories! I used to go to his shop as a young girl and just watch him work... when I was about 12 I started working in the shoe sales part of his shop... some of my fondest memories!
Self-Referencing-IITM I agree but that’s just how people are with most everything just cause it was expensive doesn’t mean they take good care of it unfortunately🤷🏻♂️
Just found your site, I like it. I've been mending my own shoes for 50 years including new insoles, rewelting and recorking all by hand with only a Black and Decker vice mounted drill and a dremel to help. I have 3 pairs that are all about 55years old and have all been mended very many times. All sewing is by hand and uses the existing holes to avoid the postage stamp effect. On pair is of veldtschoen construction and they are 55 years old and although the leather is cracked in places the use they have had is unbelievable, they cost me 6 guineas in 1965. You work much quicker than I do though.
I would love to be able to master that kind of self-sufficiency. I thought I was doing good to discover that black silicone windshield sealant could be applied to cracks in my black work shoe soles to keep water out.
Fun to watch reminds me of the workshop of my father 45 years ago. I did play with all the machinery in my schooldays. Dad taught me how to repair or make a pair of shoes. He was a master craftsman. Thank you for bringing those irreplaceable and very precious memories back to me!! ( Dad still makes shoes today for his grandchildren although he's over 80 years old!!)
Well this popped up on youtube, wasn't sure if I wanted to watch, but I'm so glad I did. I can remember my dad polishing his shoes every night. Spit and polish, every night. We lived in a fish and chip shop in the UK, my dad always said, polish your shoes, people like clean shoes. I never really understood that back then. I do now of course! Watching your video has been an absolute pleasure, thank you for posting.
Hi! I'm from the Philippines. We CALLED US here a "SAPATERO". I was one of them, 35 years in Experience. I use to REPAIR old Shoes, sandals, Bags. I made Gun HOLSTER, Leather Belt, Wallet, Knife leather Casing, Swiss or Leatherman Tool leather case, and many more. We are in different style of MAKING or Repair old Shoes or something. That's all good. As long you loved your work, and customers Satisfied And Happy. I loved your machine, I don't have it, but i can make without it. Talent makes us easy. Thank so much! 👏❤️
Too bad your comment doesn't have as many likes because of the racist and xenophobic gringos will only circle jerk among themselves. You are a real craftsman too, I believe in you.
Wow!!! I was raised in a family of shoe makers, both mother and father in Costa Rica. You brought so many a great memories back to me! What you did with your machine when trimming the leather edge, my mum did with her bare hands and using a super sharped knife. I remember she using so much force the knife slipped her hand cutting her on the chest area. And they stitched the leather by hand indeed. Thank you so much! You did a wonderful work on those shoes!
This is real craftsmanship. This is a real old trade. People didn't have the resources back in the day to throw away shoes just because the bottoms wore out. I agree with Jeff. I would have a bunch of stitches by the end of the day.
@TILEN FABE different price tags make for different level of repairs. I own leather/suede boots and shoes in the 60-80 euro price range, and we make small repairs to them all the time (changing heels, mainly, as most of them are women's high heels). I definitely got some more years out of them this way :)
@TILEN FABE There's the ol' "planned obsolescence". You can thank Frederick Winslow Taylor - The Principles of Scientific Management, and the rest of his dudes who would probably be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder - functional sociopath... he and the rest of them were the forerunners of the "Efficiency Movement". Look up Taylor sometime. IIRC, he once stood on a factory floor, timed with a stop watch how many literal steps it took to accomplish a task in a given amount of time, and watched a woman collapse from exhaustion (she might have died, can't remember for certain). These two gentlemen epitomize the heart of master craftsmanship. They are both methodical, exacting, and are obsessed with doing it right "the first time". Not only that, they both look for better ways to accomplish their art. Which not necessarily "more efficient". Do they make mistakes? I'm certain they do, but rarely a second time. They bring back a lot of memories of growing up in Tennessee, on Old Hickory Lake, which is near Nashville, where they operate out of.
I'm in my 40s and I remember being around 7 y.o. and my dad polishing and conditioning his shoes like that. It never occurred to me until watching this video that he probably paid a lot for them. They did look a bit old fashioned way back when. He probably had them for a while. Thanks for bringing back the memories!
This reminds me of my grandfather’s saddle shop, and watching him tool leather and make incredibly beautiful, functional works of art. The old machines, the smell of leather, it was all fascinating in exactly the same way as watching this. Thanks for showing us all how a true craftsman works!
This is such a treat to watch! It is an ART! My father was in the Airforce, and my mother was a nurse. All six siblings know very well how to take care of our footwear and when to take it to the shoe man. It's thirty miles away, but I STILL GO!
Master at work beautiful job family worked at it all there lives I'm the only one that hasn't kept the tradition but I must say I do enjoy watching a hood and respected restorer at work
Plus tacked shoes in my opinion is a much better design idea and hoes aback a long long time a lot of the cowboy era was made using tacked shoes and boots. History right here.
Watching this takes me back to watching my dad in his shop when I was a child. All the same tools and methods. Just watching this even brings back the smells of his shop to go along with the video. For the memories alone thanks! You do superb work.
was on my home page and in the one hour break from being a single dad and then working a full time and part time job after i drop the kids off to school i get on youtube and find a feel good video to watch to get me going and i chose to use that time to watch this, never seen a shoe restored, didn't even know it was a thing still... so yah... lol thanks for the video it was great to see something brought back to life with an old craft! Thank yoU!
It still amazes me how much these trash shoes can be brought back to life. You practically built a shoe in this one. Waiting for "Trenton & Heath" brand of shoes... it does have a nice ring to it. ;)
Well, it is possible because it's an initially great shoes brought to trash condition. As I once heard from some Hermes video "The luxury is what is worth restoration"
Well done, it is a breath of the fresh air, to see that someone is still fixing the shoes, and not throwing away things. We need more people like this. Thanks for doing this :)
Well, most shoes anymore that the general public use are not designed to be remade. They are literally designed to be thrown away, so most cobblers won't even work on them because you pretty much have to build an entirely new shoe.
"LOL How hard can being a cobbler be lololol" *Watches the whole complicated process, his huge forearms and cut up hands* "Ok, so I'll be leaving you to your profession, my dear sir master craftsman..." *Hides in the corner*
Watching that repair is a joyous thing. Watching in Ireland. My parents both worked for Clarks Shoe Factory here in the sixties, seventies and eighties so the smell of leather is a very evocative memory for me. We didn't have a lot of stuff growing up but my parents worked very hard and we always had good shoes and I appreciate each stage in the making of a shoe. I really hope the person who owns those beautifully repaired shoes takes better care of them this time. Great video and this channel is a real find for me ☘☘☘
This guy has a skill. He's an old school shoemaker. What a craftsman. Bernie Weitzman's old shoes are nasty. Hats off to him... You gotta hat? Take it off
Unfortunately it’s a dyeing trade,The cost of labour,materials, The Trainer fashion, There was hundreds of shoe repairers in London years ago.Only a few use them now,It’s a shame.
I love how you don't "over narrate" what is going on, like so many UA-camrs. It's just nice to watch you work. Great video- I didn't search for it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wonderful job! 👏 Can't help being reminded of the old Woodsman's joke about the quality of his tools - "This here trusty axe is the best damn axe I've ever owned" he said. "Had it nigh on forty years, and only had to replace the blade thrice and the handle four times in all those years!"
"this is not NASA science", as I'm sitting on my computer working at Lockheed Martin designing things for satellites, thinking this guy is way more talented than I am.
Hahaha...😀. That’s pretty awesome! We appreciate you taking a few minutes to check out our video. Now, get back to doing really cool things like designing pieces for satellites. 👍🏻
@K05 T4R Maybe it's time to go get that engineering degree and join me in Colorado to work on space stuff! Nasa is our customer as well, so you could always be directly working with them! Fun company to work for!
It’s super expensive to redo shoes to this extent. You could by another pair brand new for the same price. Probably the owner is so damn cheap that he said “hey do they for free and make a video. The video will be your company advertisement.” No person in their right mind would be wearing shoes with soles like that...except a poverty stricken person, or a drastically cheap person. If it’s the former, just buy him some new inexpensive waterproof sneakers that will last and be down with it. Interesting video though.
How can anyone let their shoes get in such horrible condition? What an amazing transformation! You did a fantastic job bringing these shoes back to their original condition, and then some. It’s clear that you guys don’t ever cut any corners on any of your reconditioning projects. I’ve never seen a video depicting such a total transformation of a pair of shoes. Great job and thanks for sharing within your Channel...Ed
@Trenton & Heath People do the same thing to things they presumably steward over and care about... relationships, teeth, marriages, roofs, children finances, The Almighty...Not so surprisingly to me he let his shoes get to THIS point 😉👍🏾
well i was a dancer and danceteacher for over 10 years. and as a youngblood i was allso dancing in the streets of course 24/7 with no money which means i had maybe 1 or 2 pair of shoes thru the whole year... you should see some of my old shoes 😉 i mean... the only way i replace them is if they litterly fall-appart.
So incredible the amount of work and detail. I sew and have done alterations but I had no knowledge of the detail and process of shoe construction. You are truly a master craftsman. Your steady hand, in-depth knowledge, and major league high quality tools make this so beautiful to watch. Poetry in motion. A dance of love. Thank you for sharing your skills. Loved it!!!💐
I refuse to throw away my favorite pair of heels n hopes of getting them repaired like this; it’s been very hard to find someone with this level of skill.
this is pretty awesome how you brought those shoes back from the dead. incredible attention to detail. love watching people work like this. machines pretty much do alot of work, but man, this was awesome to see a lost craft brought to youtube. well done sir
In most part, knowing how, what where, when, why boxes are ticked. The craftsman learns early on how to work safely, how to look after his tools and how to source and look after materials of the trade. Above all, if not seeking best result in any trade it would be futile to expect best result and good customer satisfaction. So there are cobblers and shoe repairers. Difference is in the result each can produce. Constructing the already deconstrated shoes determine which is which.
This man must have loved his shoes very much to wear them down to the socks he was walking on. BRAVO for showing us how you replaced his shoes he loved so well. A joy to watch.
The other videos they do are terrific for content and education. This one ... pretty much at a lost for words about how informative it is. Starting to look like there's nothing Heath can't fix. You guys just keep getting better and better.
thepowderriverfarrier Thank you, sir! You’re too kind! Yeah, Heath is a magician when it comes to most shoes. I handle the easier tasks and leave the heavy hitters up to him.
Yep. Me, too. I have a pair of old Wellingtons that were looking kind of sad, scuffed and grey. Got some Saphir Renovateur and black cream polish. Now they gleam. Thanks, T & H!
Well made shoe. I use Ferragamos daily and sometimes walk through mud, snow, and rain. They are the only dress shoe I trust. I use the loafers with the rubber soles.
I am quite amazed that these shoes were brought back to life. I recently started getting my shoes refurbed rather than throw them away, I really respect this art form.
My father was a Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. EVERY Saturday night we shined our shoes for church on Sunday. He told me that you can tell a lot about a man by how his shoes look. Whenever I interviewed a man for a position I always look at his shoes. I still wear shoes today that are over 30 years old because of how my father taught me to care for them. Oddly enough my favorite is a pair of Ferragmo wingtips. Amazing work sir.
When I moved to my area I was so excited that there was an actual cobbler. They even use a giant boot as a sign to let people know their trade. It's so interesting to see this sort of skill and knowledge being used.
Awesome! I grew up next door to a shoe maker and repair man. He taught me a lot and always fixed my shoes when I was a kid. I'm glad to see the art still alive.
When I was a kid our shoes had leather soles. When we wore holes in the bottoms of them. My old dear use to cut the cornflake box to the shape of the soles and then insert them into the shoes. Hmm the good old days lol 😂
I don't know how I arrived here (just watching random videos); but I feel compelled to say that you are a dedicated professional who knows and practices his craft well it would seem. I hope you charged your customer a king's ransom for the love and care you put into rescuing his much abused shoes! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the video - thank you
I used to exercise racehorses and go through my boots really quick. I would go to a cobbler in whatever town I worked in. I would drop my boots off. Came back the next day and my 👢 looked brand new. Also, boot polish and conditioner.
Unintentional ASMR ! Great craftsmanship! An old world cobbler is harder to find these days. At first, I thought these Ferragamo loafers were a "total wreck", then I looked up the prices. These shoes retail $700+ new. Great job on the restoration. Your friend must have been impressed!
My late father always said, "You can tell a lot about a man just by looking at how he takes care of his shoes ..." Yeah my dad used to polish and shine his shoes on the regular! He was a GREAT man, who took wonderful care of his family.
My grandpop is the same way! Very formal. He always wears his sweater vest, sport coat and hat when going out. Even when we visit, and stay late, he will change to his pjs and wear his robe and matching slippers.
@@stopyrak06 Sound's a lot like my dad was. He always dressed "appropriately" even going to the grocers.or to doctor's office visits. Ironed slacks, Shined shoes, overcoat & hat ... Yep! Dapper Dresser he was. I miss him so much!
@@katsleggsful yep! There's not too much different between errands and "going out"... except how fancy my grandpop's vest gets lol. Can't shake the old school! He also taught my uncle's how to dress properly and shine their shoes. They're not as old school as him but still organized and well dressed.
Fascinating! Such a marvelous skill to have learned and honed to perfection. I cannot imagine the thousands of hours it has taken to bring you to this level of mastery. It is obvious that this is not only a skill but also an art. The way your hands touch the leather says that much of what you do involves an intuition that cannot always be taught. Thank you for sharing your amazing gift with us!
So great to see there are still craftsmen, who have pride in their work. My Dad was a master plasterer, and he said, quite often, that no one seems to have pride in their craft. He would have enjoyed watching this!
I'm not a shoe person... but boy was that satisfying. Kind of: if those shoes could be saved that gives me hope for many other things in life, as well:)
I would’ve never thought I would enjoy watching a cobbler at work, but was quite impressed at the amount of time and labor it takes to repair a pair of shoes. Not too many of you guys around in this day.
Yeah, makes me wish leather boots and shoes were more in style
ha ha ha ha nice
Omgosh... same here! Amazing craftsmanship.
Nice you ate doing good jobp
WATCH THAT OTHER GUY TO HE FIXES SHOES BAGS ETC THESE GUYS ARE QUITE RELAXING TO WATCH
Honestly have never been interested in shoes or shoe repair until the last month or so and have found myself watching and enjoying videos like this. There's something special about watching a trained craftsman take pride in what he's doing and what a transformation!
That’s awesome, Brendan! We really appreciate you watching.
Brendan Smith, my dad was a master shoe repairman. My dad could take a pair of shoes that looked as though they were ready for the trash and fix them to look like new. He also sold new shoes, cowboy boots, and lineman boots. For some of his customers, it was impossible to purchase a good pair of leather shoes. Daddy would purchase used shoes, repair them to look new, and even his poorest customers could afford a good pair of shoes. My dad was raised on a farm, but farming was not his thing. After WWII, Pop Werner, an old German-born cobbler taught my dad and my uncle the business.
Haha same here my first time watching anything like this seems interesting
Herbie’s Girl Very cool! Thanks for sharing.
Especially when he’s so handsome too🥰
It's difficult to put into words how relaxing and fulfilling it is to watch a master craftsman carefully go to work. Great content guys, keep it up
Thank you! We appreciate it.
King Jerbear I bet there’s an obscure Japanese or German word for the feeling!
@@drfutato Mono No Aware could fit the situation!
You're right specially during quarantine.
Wow, they did a great job on the shoes but what judgmental a-h*les throughout towards this client giving them hundreds of dollars to fix these shoes. Seriously off-putting. I hope the poor guy never sees this video. What a way to shame clients. No thanks. Prefer to give my business to people who are kind and respectful to others.
This is more than art. This is shoe surgery. These loafers were mortally wounded, and this master brought them back from the dead. Amazing skill!
Couldn't say it better.
Necromancy
So funny. I watched these videos and sometimes it was hard for me to see a shoe stripped down to its parts! I cringed and thought: wow this is like surgery!! Great minds and all that 😉
@@Bldyiii Black Arts
Did i search for this: No
Did i watch it: Yes
Same and it was worth it
Same here! I can't believe I sat through the WHOLE video and did a rewind on several parts! LMAOOOOO...🤣🤣🤣🤣
Worth it
How did this happen to us?
Same
I love seeing that people wear their shoes out, then RESURRECT them through repair. We wouldn’t have such a huge waste problem if we bought more things that aged well, and if they were MADE to be repaired, in the first place.
We’re returning to that, though. Planned obsolescence has had its time. ⏲
The only thing that was restored was the leather... and we have plenty of leather in this world.
Ha some fine brownie point. The shoes cost a lot, so you repair so you don't have to buy new ones. 15$ from Xaomi doesn't make sense to be repaired
@Mo Poppins The whole reason people don’t repair things anymore shoes, clothing and the like, is because it’s actually cheaper to buy new things now. So, it doesn’t make sense to have things repaired unless they’re sentimental. Years ago we didn’t have such luxuries. What you had was what you used until you couldn’t anymore. The world would be a better place if we weren’t so wasteful, but it’s not. I’ve always tried to do my part by taking things I didn’t want anymore and can still be used to charity’s.
Sneakers and “vegan” pleather shoes are not really repairable. Those the most common shoe nowadays unfortunately. Harmful synthetics and sweatshop labor, and ultimately land filled. Sad.
Jon yes, but, what it costs to remake/ refurbish these shoes is a very high cost. The man could have found a brand new pair at discount online. Just sayin that I have looked into doing it with my own shoes and it was too expensive.
Amazing that you can de-construct a shoe that far, put it back together and end up with it looking like new. Can’t beat craftsmanship
My grandfather was a shoe maker. I spent hours watching him stretch leather uppers, hammer on tacks, thread leather lines instead of gluing soles and basically craft shoes from scratch. The smell of his shop is imprinted in my memory, and so is the precision of his craft.
Thanks for being a Craftsman in this day and age.
I have never seen anyone put so much love into restoring old shoes like this before
I was so poor growing up in the Philippines … I use to fix my shoes using a scissor and a Glue and some toothbrush to clean it… next day I go to school happy and proud 😊
Perhaps you could be a cobbler! 😁
You should have asked that douche Imelda Marcos for a new pair - she had over 5000 pairs of shoes.
Your comment brings back memories of me lining the sole of my new "Bakya" or wooden slippers with the rubber interior of tires. I trace the heel and sole and cut the rubber to size and nail it. Made my bakya last longer and looking new. This was in the late 50"s when I was in my elementary school and have to walk about 5 miles to and fro my school. I think they don't make bakya anymore. Regards from your kababayan.
Love your attitude man! ❤️
Andy Granatelli, why did she have so many shoes? Did she have mental illness?
This man’s accent is superb. I usually can’t understand American accents but he sounds so soothing and whimsical like something out of a storybook. I didn’t search for this video but glad it came up. I am going to condition all my shoes and boots now. UK weather isn’t as harsh on leather but rain in the spring and autumn time can discolour and affect the look.
Myself, as an old 'Italian' (actually 3rd. generation American, USA) craftsman, it gives me great satisfaction and comfort to watch such knowledgeable and practiced skill being exercised ... and yet, by a very young man, at that!
Kudos!
Liche Christ I have 3 Ferragamo leather purses/handbags that I worked hard for and I will be buried with them lol
His hair is grey
@@samspianos A. people can start going gray quite young, I had a 17-year-old male student who had gray hairs, and B. compared to an old craftsman, he probably is young. My guess is he's probably in his 40s.
@@limalicious Yes he's 40 or so years old;he may have been a cobbler for 25 years already
I play roblox
Beautiful work. My father was a Marine and he taught me how to condition and polish all my leather shoes. It’s stuck with me all my life. It matters!
Thank you! Our dad was military as well. Maybe that’s where our fondness for shoe care stemmed from as well.
Man the youtube algorithm is on one today. First I found myself clicking on a guy collecting quarters from his laundry mat and now here I am watching 26 minutes of loafers being restored. What a wild ride on the youtube train.
😄 We appreciate you stopping and watching!
Two months later.... I watched the guy collecting coins from his laundromat, then I watched a guy make a alligator wallet, and now I’m watching this guy fix loafers and I can’t stop watching.
@@AM-sm3bz dude i just watched the alligator wallet yesterday and the laundromat like a month ago lmao
Watching you work has made me realize how much we take for granted in our society. So much care, knowledge, and skills go into the making of shoes and most of us never even think about it. Thank you for enlightening me.
In a world of throwaway culture, this video and channel are inspiring. Passion + Skill + Art + Patience!
as a designer i can really relate
Anthony Miyazaki I felt the same way!
American throw away culture, not the world.
@@yacovlevi not just an American culture, that i can promise you.
@@koosmaritz6835 Even this shoe recraft has things which is thrown away and bad for the environment.
UA-cam is a treasure trove. I didn't even think this kind of content existed, never mind that I wanted it, but it does and I do, so I immediately subbed.
People talk about the good old days, but in many ways we now live in a Utopia.
“If they get to looking like that, yeah, people are judging you.” He is priceless!
I was looking specifically for this comment.
Oh Dear!
By that time, we're trying not to look at him. The rest of his clothes can't fare any better.
my Dad was a shoe repair man... this brought back so many memories! I used to go to his shop as a young girl and just watch him work... when I was about 12 I started working in the shoe sales part of his shop... some of my fondest memories!
I have a whole new appreciation for what you do sir! That’s called craftsmanship!! And I also understand why those shoes originally cost 600+ dollars!
Thank you! We really appreciate you watching.
I love that people still do this craft. Great work.
$600? Now it makes more sense why he spent so much time and effort basically rebuilding these shoes..very impressive craft
If they were that valuable why didnt he get the shoes attended to long before they got to that state.
Self-Referencing-IITM I agree but that’s just how people are with most everything just cause it was expensive doesn’t mean they take good care of it unfortunately🤷🏻♂️
Just found your site, I like it.
I've been mending my own shoes for 50 years including new insoles, rewelting and recorking all by hand with only a Black and Decker vice mounted drill and a dremel to help. I have 3 pairs that are all about 55years old and have all been mended very many times.
All sewing is by hand and uses the existing holes to avoid the postage stamp effect.
On pair is of veldtschoen construction and they are 55 years old and although the leather is cracked in places the use they have had is unbelievable, they cost me 6 guineas in 1965. You work much quicker than I do though.
Can you make a video? This sounds interresting!
I would love to be able to master that kind of self-sufficiency. I thought I was doing good to discover that black silicone windshield sealant could be applied to cracks in my black work shoe soles to keep water out.
Fun to watch reminds me of the workshop of my father 45 years ago. I did play with all the machinery in my schooldays. Dad taught me how to repair or make a pair of shoes. He was a master craftsman. Thank you for bringing those irreplaceable and very precious memories back to me!! ( Dad still makes shoes today for his grandchildren although he's over 80 years old!!)
Well this popped up on youtube, wasn't sure if I wanted to watch, but I'm so glad I did. I can remember my dad polishing his shoes every night. Spit and polish, every night. We lived in a fish and chip shop in the UK, my dad always said, polish your shoes, people like clean shoes. I never really understood that back then. I do now of course! Watching your video has been an absolute pleasure, thank you for posting.
This guy's handshake must be legendary lol this stuff takes some strong hands
I have shook hand with big guys and they handshake sometimes is like shaking dead lamb leg.
His handshake would smell like a footshake.
Until today I had no idea what I was missing never seeing a master shoe cobbler at his craft. I applaud you sir 👏
Nice...repairing what you have instead of throwing away and buying new! Excellent and these days unheard of. Love seeing this workmanship.
Hi! I'm from the Philippines. We CALLED US here a "SAPATERO".
I was one of them, 35 years in Experience. I use to REPAIR old Shoes, sandals, Bags. I made Gun HOLSTER, Leather Belt, Wallet, Knife leather Casing, Swiss or Leatherman Tool leather case, and many more.
We are in different style of MAKING or Repair old Shoes or something.
That's all good. As long you loved your work, and customers Satisfied
And Happy. I loved your machine, I don't have it, but i can make without it. Talent makes us easy. Thank so much! 👏❤️
Too bad your comment doesn't have as many likes because of the racist and xenophobic gringos will only circle jerk among themselves. You are a real craftsman too, I believe in you.
A lot of comments recently have zero likes. The guy is too busy cobbling to reply to everyone
Kabayan pareho tayo trabaho repair din ako sapatos ... maganda yun mga gamit pagawa sapatos.. tayo mano mano lang eh eh
Kudos to you sir for your craftsmanship .I enjoyed reading about your work hello from Washington to the phillipines☺🌠
@@friedchickenridebarton1567 stay safe kabayan
I have never seen a cuter cobbler in my life lol!
Haha...thank you, Sahar!
He's the first for me. If they all look like him it's a damn, hot profession.
My Best. Out.
To be fair though, you've never seen any cobblers in your life. lol
He is very handsome. My cobbler is a cranky guy from Turkey. lol I really like this channel. It's simultaneously educational and intriguing.
@@talksolot that's just it, I have trust me lol. Lots of cobblers in Gambia
“Yeah, people are judging you”. What a relaxing, satisfying video to watch. Such skill.
It is so impressive watching masters of their trade.
It sure is! Precisely why I watched this video.
Thank you so much!
Do masters use a knife with the sharp edge pointing towards the hand? Hmmm
@@Vinterfrid If you mean 5:30 it looks more like some "prybar" than actual sharp knife.
@@mr.wizeguy8995 That is correct, but I was thinking of the tool being used from 13:00 and forward. Oh well - I assume the guy knows what he is doing.
Wow!!! I was raised in a family of shoe makers, both mother and father in Costa Rica. You brought so many a great memories back to me! What you did with your machine when trimming the leather edge, my mum did with her bare hands and using a super sharped knife. I remember she using so much force the knife slipped her hand cutting her on the chest area. And they stitched the leather by hand indeed. Thank you so much! You did a wonderful work on those shoes!
This is real craftsmanship. This is a real old trade. People didn't have the resources back in the day to throw away shoes just because the bottoms wore out. I agree with Jeff. I would have a bunch of stitches by the end of the day.
@TILEN FABE different price tags make for different level of repairs. I own leather/suede boots and shoes in the 60-80 euro price range, and we make small repairs to them all the time (changing heels, mainly, as most of them are women's high heels). I definitely got some more years out of them this way :)
@TILEN FABE There's the ol' "planned obsolescence". You can thank Frederick Winslow Taylor - The Principles of Scientific Management, and the rest of his dudes who would probably be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder - functional sociopath... he and the rest of them were the forerunners of the "Efficiency Movement". Look up Taylor sometime. IIRC, he once stood on a factory floor, timed with a stop watch how many literal steps it took to accomplish a task in a given amount of time, and watched a woman collapse from exhaustion (she might have died, can't remember for certain).
These two gentlemen epitomize the heart of master craftsmanship. They are both methodical, exacting, and are obsessed with doing it right "the first time". Not only that, they both look for better ways to accomplish their art. Which not necessarily "more efficient". Do they make mistakes? I'm certain they do, but rarely a second time. They bring back a lot of memories of growing up in Tennessee, on Old Hickory Lake, which is near Nashville, where they operate out of.
I love it when he said “come on guys, if your shoes look like this people are judging you.” Too funny. Great repair. They look beautiful.
Haha...thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
I've been a seamstress in an award-winning shoe repair shop for over 40 years. You did a really beautiful job. Love the hand-finishing.
What good quality casual shoes would you recommend to me? Not an unlimited budget but lets say 500 bucks or so.
In a world devoid of hard work and safe spaces it's such a godsend to see master artisans just kill it on the regular...Love you guys
When he soaked the sole with that liquid I was like... he’s gonna set them on fire, they’re too far gone. lol
Lol....😂😂😂😂
“Yeah, I can fix them..” 🔥 “All done!” 😂😂😂
Lol funny😭😭😭😭😭
Yyyaaaassss he was killing me with his commentary about the hole. Lol 😂
lol and not a drop on the floor. skill level....FIRE!!
I'm in my 40s and I remember being around 7 y.o. and my dad polishing and conditioning his shoes like that. It never occurred to me until watching this video that he probably paid a lot for them. They did look a bit old fashioned way back when. He probably had them for a while. Thanks for bringing back the memories!
My grandad repaired shoes for 80 of his 93 and counting years, great memories of watching him as a kid.
This reminds me of my grandfather’s saddle shop, and watching him tool leather and make incredibly beautiful, functional works of art. The old machines, the smell of leather, it was all fascinating in exactly the same way as watching this. Thanks for showing us all how a true craftsman works!
You should show their reaction when they see their old shoes again for the first time. The big reveal.. the big smile
This is such a treat to watch! It is an ART! My father was in the Airforce, and my mother was a nurse. All six siblings know very well how to take care of our footwear and when to take it to the shoe man. It's thirty miles away, but I STILL GO!
Watching specialized tools do their job makes me happy.
Jeff Scott well said
Master at work beautiful job family worked at it all there lives I'm the only one that hasn't kept the tradition but I must say I do enjoy watching a hood and respected restorer at work
Plus tacked shoes in my opinion is a much better design idea and hoes aback a long long time a lot of the cowboy era was made using tacked shoes and boots. History right here.
Watching this takes me back to watching my dad in his shop when I was a child. All the same tools and methods. Just watching this even brings back the smells of his shop to go along with the video. For the memories alone thanks!
You do superb work.
This guy must have been running alongside Forrest Gump in his Ferragamos
Wali B 😁
Or rode a bike with no brakes and always downhill!
Wali B You just made me burst out laughing in the middle of a crowded train that was quiet, lmao!!!!!!
LOL
Wali B 😂😂😂
was on my home page and in the one hour break from being a single dad and then working a full time and part time job after i drop the kids off to school i get on youtube and find a feel good video to watch to get me going and i chose to use that time to watch this, never seen a shoe restored, didn't even know it was a thing still... so yah... lol thanks for the video it was great to see something brought back to life with an old craft! Thank yoU!
This art I just ran across randomly and I absolutely love you guy's post I watch during lunch. They are just so informative and relaxing.
It still amazes me how much these trash shoes can be brought back to life. You practically built a shoe in this one. Waiting for "Trenton & Heath" brand of shoes... it does have a nice ring to it. ;)
BLTspace Stay tuned. We’re contemplating it. 😉
@@TrentonHeath Do it and you'll have a lot of sales coming your way. I'll buy day one.
Well, it is possible because it's an initially great shoes brought to trash condition. As I once heard from some Hermes video "The luxury is what is worth restoration"
Totally sounds super hi class. Say “ I bought a pair of Trenton and Heath’s”. Damn that rolls off the tongue nicely
Well done, it is a breath of the fresh air, to see that someone is still fixing the shoes, and not throwing away things. We need more people like this. Thanks for doing this :)
Well, most shoes anymore that the general public use are not designed to be remade. They are literally designed to be thrown away, so most cobblers won't even work on them because you pretty much have to build an entirely new shoe.
"LOL How hard can being a cobbler be lololol"
*Watches the whole complicated process, his huge forearms and cut up hands*
"Ok, so I'll be leaving you to your profession, my dear sir master craftsman..."
*Hides in the corner*
Watching that repair is a joyous thing. Watching in Ireland. My parents both worked for Clarks Shoe Factory here in the sixties, seventies and eighties so the smell of leather is a very evocative memory for me. We didn't have a lot of stuff growing up but my parents worked very hard and we always had good shoes and I appreciate each stage in the making of a shoe. I really hope the person who owns those beautifully repaired shoes takes better care of them this time. Great video and this channel is a real find for me ☘☘☘
This guy has a skill. He's an old school shoemaker. What a craftsman. Bernie Weitzman's old shoes are nasty. Hats off to him... You gotta hat? Take it off
Unfortunately it’s a dyeing trade,The cost of labour,materials, The Trainer fashion, There was hundreds of shoe repairers in London years ago.Only a few use them now,It’s a shame.
Do you restore ladies Donald J. Pliner?
I imagine we are looking at decades of experience in this craftsman artistry.
I love how you don't "over narrate" what is going on, like so many UA-camrs. It's just nice to watch you work. Great video- I didn't search for it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Did i search for this: No
Did i watch it: Yes
Did I enjoy it very much: hell yeah
Thank you very much!
Bro... same...Was ushered here after looking up a Thursday boot review from a Beardbrand haircut video.
In this throw away society, I am SOOOOO happy to see him do this and realize there really are people who keep these skills alive!
Denise Carpenter Indeed!
Wonderful job! 👏
Can't help being reminded of the old Woodsman's joke about the quality of his tools - "This here trusty axe is the best damn axe I've ever owned" he said. "Had it nigh on forty years, and only had to replace the blade thrice and the handle four times in all those years!"
"this is not NASA science", as I'm sitting on my computer working at Lockheed Martin designing things for satellites, thinking this guy is way more talented than I am.
Hahaha...😀. That’s pretty awesome! We appreciate you taking a few minutes to check out our video. Now, get back to doing really cool things like designing pieces for satellites. 👍🏻
@@TrentonHeath I love your videos. Of all the people who do shoe repair on UA-cam, I've found your videos the most enjoyable!
@K05 T4R Maybe it's time to go get that engineering degree and join me in Colorado to work on space stuff! Nasa is our customer as well, so you could always be directly working with them! Fun company to work for!
You might be able to land a spacecraft on Mars but could you have repaired those shoes? NASA science...indeed.
You are obviously a very intelligent and skilled person . Yet humble. I admire that . Good for you
Oh man, I miss being a cobbler! Thank you for the memory!
This guy was like” I’m going to get all my money’s worth out of these shoes!” Can’t say that I blame him!!🤣🤣🤣🤷🏽♀️
SAAAME
and beyond
It’s super expensive to redo shoes to this extent. You could by another pair brand new for the same price. Probably the owner is so damn cheap that he said “hey do they for free and make a video. The video will be your company advertisement.” No person in their right mind would be wearing shoes with soles like that...except a poverty stricken person, or a drastically cheap person. If it’s the former, just buy him some new inexpensive waterproof sneakers that will last and be down with it. Interesting video though.
@@occipitalneuralgia2339 just Google the price for those loafers. Its worth it to fix them.
@@occipitalneuralgia2339 its Ferragamo and probably vintage. They probably done make these anymore.
“Condition your shoes, guys.”
Lol he sounds so disappointed in society. Like, c’mon guys. Do better.
Haha...you nailed it! ;-)
@@TrentonHeath no, YOU did! 😎😉🤣🤣 .
Bethany McKinley yes he does lol
Of course...this is embarrassing. A good pair of shoes. Let me see my son like that. Nah he a shopper like his mom 😂
I own some leather shoes that I haven't conditioned in a few years. I need to be better.
How can anyone let their shoes get in such horrible condition? What an amazing transformation! You did a fantastic job bringing these shoes back to their original condition, and then some. It’s clear that you guys don’t ever cut any corners on any of your reconditioning projects. I’ve never seen a video depicting such a total transformation of a pair of shoes. Great job and thanks for sharing within your Channel...Ed
Ed, thank you so much! We really appreciate you watching. It’s definitely baffling that folks can wear shoes down this much before repairing. Haha.
@@TrentonHeath It's easy to do when they put a removable liner in their shoe.
@Trenton & Heath People do the same thing to things they presumably steward over and care about... relationships, teeth, marriages, roofs, children finances, The Almighty...Not so surprisingly to me he let his shoes get to THIS point 😉👍🏾
A salesman will wear shoes completely out.especially if they are comfortable. Don't judge people.shit happens.
well i was a dancer and danceteacher for over 10 years. and as a youngblood i was allso dancing in the streets of course 24/7 with no money which means i had maybe 1 or 2 pair of shoes thru the whole year...
you should see some of my old shoes 😉 i mean... the only way i replace them is if they litterly fall-appart.
So incredible the amount of work and detail. I sew and have done alterations but I had no knowledge of the detail and process of shoe construction. You are truly a master craftsman. Your steady hand, in-depth knowledge, and major league high quality tools make this so beautiful to watch. Poetry in motion. A dance of love. Thank you for sharing your skills. Loved it!!!💐
Seeing this makes me miss my father. He used to repair shoes like before he passed away. Great job!
Please take good care of your hands.
Esther Nap my dad was in air force, he loved doing his shoes and getting higher quality work done. Knew all the great shoe people in NYC.
As a hobby? How does one get into that? Seems like you need a lot of tools and really specific skills
I refuse to throw away my favorite pair of heels n hopes of getting them repaired like this; it’s been very hard to find someone with this level of skill.
I would write to these guys and mail them over to them.
this is pretty awesome how you brought those shoes back from the dead. incredible attention to detail. love watching people work like this. machines pretty much do alot of work, but man, this was awesome to see a lost craft brought to youtube. well done sir
In most part, knowing how, what where, when, why boxes are ticked.
The craftsman learns early on how to work safely, how to look after his tools and how to source and look after materials of the trade.
Above all, if not seeking best result in any trade it would be futile to expect best result and good customer satisfaction.
So there are cobblers and shoe repairers. Difference is in the result each can produce.
Constructing the already deconstrated shoes determine which is which.
This man must have loved his shoes very much to wear them down to the socks he was walking on. BRAVO for showing us how you replaced his shoes he loved so well. A joy to watch.
The other videos they do are terrific for content and education. This one ... pretty much at a lost for words about how informative it is. Starting to look like there's nothing Heath can't fix. You guys just keep getting better and better.
thepowderriverfarrier Thank you, sir! You’re too kind! Yeah, Heath is a magician when it comes to most shoes. I handle the easier tasks and leave the heavy hitters up to him.
When he said “you should never get to this point” I almost died laughing.
Me to
Ive brought shoes in much better shape to the cobblers and they refuse to fix it and tell me it costs less to just get new shoes
You made new shoes! But seriously we should never let our shoes get to this point!! Marvelous work.
“If your shoes look like that...yep, people are judging you”
Me: 😳. Begins searching Amazon for shoe conditioner immediately 😂
Lol. Meee too! You just said it out loud. Thx. :)
Yep. Me, too. I have a pair of old Wellingtons that were looking kind of sad, scuffed and grey. Got some Saphir Renovateur and black cream polish. Now they gleam. Thanks, T & H!
You were never bothered, if your poor, too good looking shoes attract thieves.
Well made shoe. I use Ferragamos daily and sometimes walk through mud, snow, and rain. They are the only dress shoe I trust. I use the loafers with the rubber soles.
I am quite amazed that these shoes were brought back to life. I recently started getting my shoes refurbed rather than throw them away, I really respect this art form.
My father was a Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. EVERY Saturday night we shined our shoes for church on Sunday. He told me that you can tell a lot about a man by how his shoes look. Whenever I interviewed a man for a position I always look at his shoes.
I still wear shoes today that are over 30 years old because of how my father taught me to care for them. Oddly enough my favorite is a pair of Ferragmo wingtips. Amazing work sir.
Very relaxing for this 78yr old Mema. I don't know how I got here either. Great crafting. Good way to end my day. Thanks for sharing.
My godfather has been doing this for over 43yrs I love going to his store n smelling the smell of leather 😊☺️😁😀
When I moved to my area I was so excited that there was an actual cobbler. They even use a giant boot as a sign to let people know their trade. It's so interesting to see this sort of skill and knowledge being used.
I bet you guys are great at opening jars. Your hand strength has to be great to ply the soles off the shoes. Thanks for sharing your art.
I’m usually able to open jar lids for my wife, so you may have a good point there. 😉. Thanks for watching!
@@TrentonHeath "Man hands"
Awesome! I grew up next door to a shoe maker and repair man. He taught me a lot and always fixed my shoes when I was a kid. I'm glad to see the art still alive.
if i used that sole separator tool, i'd come home with 3 fingers on my left hand and an eye patch.
rofl -- graphic
I laughed out loud at this comment. Very funny sir! Me too.
@@stevetaylor821 I did too! Doesn't happen that often! ;-)
Very funny !!
Jeff Collins Just what I was thinkin’! 😂
When I was a kid our shoes had leather soles. When we wore holes in the bottoms of them. My old dear use to cut the cornflake box to the shape of the soles and then insert them into the shoes. Hmm the good old days lol 😂
Sounds like I'm learning to cobble from Peyton Manning! Love it!!
True 😁
I was gonna say that. The dude is Peyton’s voice doppleganger.
😂😂
Like a good neighbor cobbler is there.
YES!! i was just going to comment that...
I don't know how I arrived here (just watching random videos); but I feel compelled to say that you are a dedicated professional who knows and practices his craft well it would seem. I hope you charged your customer a king's ransom for the love and care you put into rescuing his much abused shoes! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the video - thank you
Wow.. incredible. I imagine your “friend” got a bit of a lecture from you after. 😂
I 'remember' 'those' days...when we 'all' had Leather shoes AND soles.... not just 'leather upper' .... GREAT WORK !!!!!
They are still available and worth the investment.
Can I ask why you worded this in such an... ominous way? Why all the quotes?
I used to exercise racehorses and go through my boots really quick. I would go to a cobbler in whatever town I worked in. I would drop my boots off. Came back the next day and my 👢 looked brand new. Also, boot polish and conditioner.
Unintentional ASMR ! Great craftsmanship! An old world cobbler is harder to find these days. At first, I thought these Ferragamo loafers were a "total wreck", then I looked up the prices. These shoes retail $700+ new. Great job on the restoration. Your friend must have been impressed!
The skill these guys have is amazing. First time watching this and am absolutely amazed and entertained. Great work gentlemen!
Bro, this is so cool ! It makes me so happy to see young people invest time into old crafts and become masters of it. So damn cool !!! stay awesome !
My late father always said, "You can tell a lot about a man just by looking at how he takes care of his shoes ..." Yeah my dad used to polish and shine his shoes on the regular! He was a GREAT man, who took wonderful care of his family.
My grandpop is the same way! Very formal. He always wears his sweater vest, sport coat and hat when going out. Even when we visit, and stay late, he will change to his pjs and wear his robe and matching slippers.
@@stopyrak06 Sound's a lot like my dad was. He always dressed "appropriately" even going to the grocers.or to doctor's office visits. Ironed slacks, Shined shoes, overcoat & hat ... Yep! Dapper Dresser he was. I miss him so much!
@@katsleggsful yep! There's not too much different between errands and "going out"... except how fancy my grandpop's vest gets lol. Can't shake the old school!
He also taught my uncle's how to dress properly and shine their shoes. They're not as old school as him but still organized and well dressed.
I say the same thing. I polish all my shoes and boots regularly
Shoes are overrated
Fascinating! Such a marvelous skill to have learned and honed to perfection. I cannot imagine the thousands of hours it has taken to bring you to this level of mastery. It is obvious that this is not only a skill but also an art. The way your hands touch the leather says that much of what you do involves an intuition that cannot always be taught. Thank you for sharing your amazing gift with us!
The monetary aspect apart, words of appreciation like these can do wonders to uplift a person's spirits and motivation to do his/her best.
true craftsman, I actually sat through the whole video, very soothing to watch
Firstly this guy has a gorgeous accent. On a more serious note that is some amazing craftsmanship. Beautifully finished - well done 👏🏻
Amazing! So glad the person who loves his shoes is able to have them repaired. You all do great work and it is a talent that few have.
Thank you!
So great to see there are still craftsmen, who have pride in their work. My Dad was a master plasterer, and he said, quite often, that no one seems to have pride in their craft. He would have enjoyed watching this!
This cobbler is a good-looking dude, especially his hair😉
He could model, for sure.
@@sonofhibbs4425 yes he can be an accorbie 'n finch model😈😉
You should see his shoes
I'm not a shoe person... but boy was that satisfying. Kind of: if those shoes could be saved that gives me hope for many other things in life, as well:)
like humanity
This is the value of handmade.
I am amazed how talented he is . Just like great artists he manage with his hand and create a new pair of shoes. Amazing !!!