In a world where mass-consumption has become the norm, most people wouldn’t think twice about throwing out a pair of old, worn leather shoes. But not quite everyone. Here and there around Taiwan, you can still find shoe repair shops that are saving resources, and preserving old stories as well.
Huang Tsung-chieh of Yilan County started learning to repair leather shoes when he was in his twenties. It was tough work, the kind that leaves blisters and cuts all over your hands. But Mr. Huang didn’t mind- he was learning from his father-in-law so that he could one day take over an old family business.
These days, Mr. Huang is the third-generation owner of a shoe-repair shop. It might not seem like a promising line of work in an age of fast fashion, when it is often easier to just throw away old shoes and buy new ones to replace them. But it’s fulfilling work.
Mr. Huang is getting people to think about their consumption and use of resources, cutting down on waste. He has also come to realize that every pair of leather shoes has a story to tell, and that his job is about saving these stories, too.
For instance, he has fixed the shoes of some well-known politicians over the years. And he has also helped fix shoes that will never be worn again. Once, a man brought in the shoes of his deceased wife, hoping to fix them up as a way to remember her. In addition to shoes, Mr. Huang is keeping alive both a craft and many, many memories.