International Shoemaker Day (26/11)

November 26 is International Shoemaker's Day — is a professional holiday for craftsmen and artisans involved in the design, manufacture and sewing of shoes, as well as workers involved in this production and shoe repair specialists.

Making shoes and repairing them — is a very ancient craft, and initially the work of a shoemaker was exclusively manual labor, and very difficult. After all, shoemakers, or shoe makers, had to sew all types of shoes by hand — from slippers to boots. Therefore, it is not surprising that their profession was one of the most in demand. And the skilled shoemakers, whose shoes were considered practically a work of art, were generally «weight gold».

Over the years, many crafts have gone through the process of mechanization and «-setting on industrial rails, including the footwear industry. Today, the art of making shoes for various purposes, types, categories and accessories for general use is called the footwear industry, which is aimed at meeting the needs of the general population. Companies – shoe manufacturers – produce a huge variety of shoe products from a wide variety of materials — leather, wood, rubber, plastic, jute, fabric and others.

Handmade shoes by craftsmen are gradually disappearing these days, giving way to large companies. Only a few well-known brands with a history of hundreds of years can afford such luxury as handicraft production.

But any shoe, even those made in industrial production, can tell a lot about its « owner». After all, her appearance (style, material, finishing, color, brand, condition) — has long been the object of close attention of many people when choosing a wardrobe. For example, some are ready to endure any inconvenience when walking, chasing fashionable new shoes, some don’t even look at labels, for them the main selection criterion is comfort, and others will never give up the eternal classics…

Still, there are people behind the machines and operating lines in shoe production, and even earlier designers create sketches of new models. But there is another «specialization» of this profession, which we just can’t do without in modern life. The heel flew off, the heel broke, the sole rubbed off or fell off, the strap came off, the lock on the boot broke... — and now we are in a hurry to get help from the shoemaker. By the way, over the entire centuries-old history of the profession, it is the work of a specialist who repairs shoes that has changed little (only if the tools have become more advanced) — the main role in this matter, as before, is played not by technology, but by the skill of the performer.

Although the word «shoemaker» is rare today, more often — «shoemaker» or «shoe repairman», the essence has not changed — this master not only repairs shoes (one of the most important items in our wardrobe), but literally gives them a second, or even a third, life. That is why the work of shoemakers remains honorable and in demand at all times. In addition, there are a lot of sayings about this profession: «Coaster without boots», «The cobbler’s shoes are always thin», «What kind of cobbler would he be if he sewed all the boots with one block», «Trouble, if the cobbler starts the stoves, and the boots roll pie» and others.

Therefore, of course, specialists and craftsmen in the footwear industry cannot help but have their own professional holiday. Congratulate on International Shoemaker's Day the people of this extremely important profession, which requires not just preparation, skills and experience, but also love for their work, responsibility and creativity.

By the way, in recent years, for this Day in some countries, the media have been preparing materials on the topic of shoe fashion, how to choose the right shoes, how to care for them, etc. And a number of shoe companies and brands conduct various educational and advertising campaigns.



Postcard «November 26 — International Shoemaker's Day»

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