Cobbler Or Cordwainer: Where To Go For Leather Shoe Repair
The link between man and shoes can be traced back to ancient times. And throughout the ages, our use of footwear has shown how much we progressed as humans from the simple sandals of old to the new luxurious dress shoes and collectible sneakers we have today.
Still, one aspect that remained the same throughout many eras is the need for our shoes to be repaired at some point. Yes, some of us may have the means to buy another pair, but shoe repair remains a necessary industry for those who find it practical to have their footwear fixed rather than buying a new pair.
And for this reason, we are lead to the topic of where we should go for leather shoe repair. Should we take out worn-out pair of Chelsea or Oxfords to a cobbler or a cordwainer? And what are the similarities and differences between these 2 professions?
Get to know the answers as we go through today’s blog post.
Getting The Terms Right
Before we proceed, allow us to clarify the terms that we are going to tackle in this article:
Cobbler – Is a person who repairs shoes and is someone who is only tasked with repairing used shoes with old leather. In old times, they are not allowed to work with new leather.
Cordwainer – Is an English term that is used to refer to an artisan shoemaker. The term originated in France.
Explaining The Respective Professions In Detail
Nowadays, a cobbler is generally accepted as a person who repairs and mends shoes, regardless if it’s made of leather of rubber, since most sneaker restorers also classify themselves as cobblers. So going back to the question above, it is recommended to go to this guy if you need your leather shoes to be repaired.
However, most people often assume that cobblers and cordwainers do the same thing since they all work in the same industry, but this is not always the case.
An Unexpected But Necessary Merging Of Trades
So how come cordwainers are likened to cobblers these days? At one time, cordwainers were the ones people go with if they want to have custom-made leather shoes. As mentioned, these artisans were tasked with crafting shoes from new leather. These professionals were so proud of their title that it was once considered an insult if they are labeled as cobblers since the term was also used to refer to ‘bungle’ or ‘clumsy work’.
However, the 2 trades were unexpectedly forced to merge because of the rise of mass production in manufacturing shoes in the early 19th century. As a result, cordwainers have to accept shoe repairs with cheaper pay or risk the possibility of having no work at all. And this practice has stuck for many years even to this day, which is why the distinction of both trades has blurred since then.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it is recommended to go to a cobbler if you want your shoes to be fixed. Although, you can also take your worn-out footwear to a cordwainer as they can repair your shoes as well. One thing to remember though is that the price point between their services may differ since cobblers focus only on repairs while cordwainers can repair and make customizations on your shoe, if you want to.
Moreover, cordwainers thrive well like the fashion industry because of their shoe-making skills. Some of the well-known cordwainers we have today are Jimmy Choo and Bruno Magli.
If you’re looking for a quality and affordable shoe repair service, you can contact NuShoe today.