The Shoemaker By Popa Andrei

Introduction Yesterday ,I entered along with my teacher of economics miss Vasile Magdalena in a shoemaker’s workshop from our city with an eye to get an interview . At the beginning I expected to find a sober owner , but , instead I find a very opened sir who kindly invited us in his workshop. Sincerely , I was surprised to see with what passion he explained us all the steps that were fallowed to finish a shoe.

A little interview We started “the show” with an interview : Me: “How long do you work as a shoemaker? “ He: “ Since 1972 , that means 43 years , however is almost a human life. “ Me: “ What convinced you to fallow this job?” He: “The needs . The needs of the life.” Me: “Did you choose this job from the first time?” He: “ I finished a professional high-school as a carpenter but I was diagnosed with a back affection and I couldn’t work in a site, so I fallowed this job , a lucrative profession . ”

Me: “ I can see how proud you are because you have this job.” He: “ Yes , in 1982 , I worked in army as a boot-maker and when I finished this job I opened my workshop even if people says that it’s a shame to work as a shoemaker.” Me: ”Do you think your job is a endangered one?” He: “ I think I’m the last generation of shoemakers , instead will remain only the cobblers.”

Some photos from his workshop An antique sewing machine A grinder

His desk with another grinder and tools Shelves with shoes

The repair process of a boot A man bought a pair of boots from a boot store but he didn’t like the sole , so he came to the shoemaker to replace the current sole with another one. First , the original sole is polished on the grinder.

And… Then , the second sole is polished , too. When the polish process is finished , both sole are painted with a special glue and then are dried with a drier.

Almost the end… The second sole is added on the first one and both are dried again. When the second sole is stuck , will be cut to the original shape of the first sole. When the sole is cut , the boot repair is finished.

Some words from miss Magdalena Vasile “ A modest closet , where are living together, in a touching democratic brotherhood , pierced boots and shoes sprayed all life in cheek by the mud of the suburbs. There are shoes that are telling stories about the rise and fall of a city , which are passed by the glory of military boots made of Vox leather and << sole by sole>> at the boots made of rubber bought wholesale from the thrift shops. It is a useful job for youth cure and for refusal of divorcing by the roots that are linking you by the past. I entered there with the goodness and wilderness of the youth and I get out with the nostalgia of other times when the Guban was expressing all of us even if he had to pass thru overhauls. Reverence for the man who told us the story of Cinderella and who helped us to purr the hope that in one day she will become a princess…”

<<sole by sole>> Some helpful examples Guban shoes <<sole by sole>>

Conclusion There will be a time when our shoes will be broken ,so we need to repair them . If the shoemaker will disappear who will repair our shoes? It’s more expensive to buy another pair of boots if they have only a scratch , so for this we need the shoemaker. In my opinion, the shoemaker job is a important profession for our social life and in my dream this job will not disappear !

Some bonus photos for the end … Repairing another pair of shoes… Wooden nails ( used for military shoes in 1986)