Fix Don't Replace

Re-crafting Alden loafers at Goods & Services.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is getting a beloved and well-worn pair of footwear re-crafted. It requires two evolved consumer characteristics: patience and a strategic outlook. Most people don’t think about how their shoes are made and don’t anticipate a long arc of ownership. Others understand how a pair of Goodyear welted shoes can last for an extremely long time. It’s more than just driving down the cost-per-wear for Cordovan shoes to mere cents. There are other benefits: you own things that get better with age and you end up actually buying less stuff. The difference between well-crafted footwear and cheap construction is so obvious, I’m surprised that with so much interest in sustainability more people don’t consider buying quality shoes and getting them repaired. That always seems to be the piece we never hear about with sustainability. I still own every pair of well-made shoes I have ever bought.

If you consider the world of shoe repair it’s hard to decode which shops are skilled and those that aren’t. There’s a certain element of trial and error involved. At times that exploration can be painful. Generally I send my Crockett & Jones shoes back to the factory in Northampton to be reworked at the original specs. This is also why I own a few pairs of the same Pembroke brogues, so I have a back-up pair to wear while the other is being reworked. Sending shoes back to the factory can take longer than a local option, but I’m particular about my C&Js and don’t generally want to take a chance on a neighborhood shoe repair shop. While some shoe repair can be risky, there are excellent options out there. Consider Goods & Services here in Los Angeles.