Singaporean Banker Quit His Job & Become Shoemaker
A bespoke shoe made in the old tradition can take two to three weeks of constant labour by an experienced shoemaker. In Asia, where more and more products are going the way of mass manufacturing, a handmade shoe is rare and less appreciated by a people who aren’t as exposed to them, says Keith Poh, a young Singaporean who just spent the last five years travelling the world trying to learn the craft. The making of leather shoes dates back to the 1600s, and remained a handicraft till the 19th century, where mechanisation gradually took over the entire construction process. Handmade shoes are expensive, too, admits Poh. It’s not hard to imagine why they would be pricey, if a shoemaker can only make one or two a month. “They’d have to be at least a couple of thousand (dollars)...
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