• Shoe Repair
• Boot Repair
• Birkenstock Repair
• Mephisto Shoe Repair

Boots have longed been worn for comfort, style and necessity. They have a long history of being worn for ease with riding horses and working the land. In more recent years, they are worn for foot protection and comfort. Boots are now made from a lot of natural and synthetic materials. Traditionally, boots are made from cowhide leather but can also be made from exotic materials such as alligator, snake, ostrich, buffalo or elephant. Cowboy boots specifically refer to a certain style of riding boots that were mostly worn by cowboys. These boots come in two basic styles: western or roper.

Western style boots have a tall boot shaft that typically goes to the middle of the calf. The heel in western boots is usually at least an inch tall and very angled at the back. The most classic western boot also has pointed, narrow toes.

Roper boots are the newest type of western boot designed. These boots do not have a tall shaft. The boot shaft usually hits above the ankle and below the calf. The heel is squared off, as opposed to angled, and less than one inch tall. These make these more comfortable for everyday wear. Roper boots can also be made in a lace up format that helps keep the boot secure around the ankle. However, horseback riding enthusiasts say that lace up roper boots create a safety hazard when riding.

For riding, the western boot offers many advantages. The non-treaded and slick sole of the boot provides a smooth surface to slide in and out of the stirrup easily. The pointed and narrow toe also allows the boot to be inserted in to and out of the front of the stirrup with more ease. While in the saddle, the inch or taller heel keeps the boot from sliding forward in the stirrup and getting the rider’s ankle caught. There is always a risk of the rider being thrown from the horse and remaining caught by one foot in the stirrup while the horse continues to run or buck. Back in the days of working cowboys, they were often found on young, inexperienced horses in difficult terrain and if they were thrown these heels helped prevent injury to the cowboy. The tall shaft and no lacing also helped with this problem. If the cowboy was thrown and his foot remained in the stirrup, the body weight of the cowboy could help remove his foot from the boot. This high tops also protected the cowboys legs from thorns, rocks and rattlesnakes while not on their horses.

Roper boots were established later for modern rodeo calf ropers. These contestants have to ride and then jump down and run to tie the calf. These boots were made for easier riding and also wearing off of the horse. However, the shorter boot shaft made these boots come off easily. This is where lace up ropers started. The lace up boots made the boot easier to keep on, but also pose a safety hazard if the rider is caught in the stirrup.

• Shoe Repair
• Boot Repair
• Birkenstock Repair
• Mephisto Shoe Repair

A shoe cobbler is a person whose skill and craft is in repairing shoes and boots. In the past, cobblers were also shoemakers. However, with modern technology and equipment these skilled craftspeople focus more on repairing and caring for shoes, rather than making them.

Cobblers have been around for centuries. Historically, cobblers made shoes and sold them to the local community. These people returned to have these shoes repaired, maintained and cleaned as needed. In these times, shoes could last ten years with the proper care!

A family member that has also working in this business trains most shoe cobblers. A person wanting to become a cobbler usually has an apprenticeship for about four years to be properly trained with all the equipment and repair methods. During this time a cobbler will be trained with every variety of shoe and repair method and should be sufficiently qualified to do any repair.

Cobblers are most known for resoling shoes or boots that have been worn so much they have a hole in the bottom. However, they can also do many other repairs. Stretching boots and shoes can be done if your foot has grown slightly too large for the shoe. Resurfacing and reshaping can be done to give the shoe a fresh, clean look if the leather has been worn or scratched. Reheeling can be done to dress shoes that have had significant wear on the heel area. Cobblers can also repair nicks and damage done by heavy use and stitching or buckles that have come loose.

In most communities around the world, a cobbler can be found to perform maintenance on any number of different kinds of shoes including work boots, riding boots, sandals and dress shoes. If there is not a local cobbler available there are online cobblers where shoes can be sent for repair or restoration. With the cost of the repairs and/or cleaning plus shipping and handling, a person can have their footwear returned to them in two to four weeks clean, repaired and ready to wear again.

There is sometimes a significant cost savings in having shoes repaired and reconditioned than in buying a new pair. Some shoes, and often some boots, can cost hundreds of dollars while the repair of them can cost a fraction of that. Then, there’s also the added benefit of knowing that the shoes are already broken in and comfortable. With proper maintenance boots or shoes that have been rendered useless due to a hole in the sole or broken heel, can be brought to life again without having to break in another pair.

In times of recession, retail sales of shoes decline and cobblers thrive. Many shoe repair businesses have reported a 50% increase during recent times of slow economy. Where this is normally a slow business with small returns, these businesses show major increases when people are tightening the budget on all things, including shoes. Many times a $500 pair of women’s dress shoes can be repaired for less than $20. This is savings worth taking!

• Leather Briefcases
• Leather Document Case
• Leather Wallets
• Leather Purses
• Leather Handbags
• Leather Luggage U.K.
• Ladies Leather Briefcase
• Leather Backpacks
• Leather Attache Cases
• Leather Briefcases

Leather items make great gifts. Leather is stylish, useful, and with proper care lasts for years. Leather never goes out of style. Both men and women can be given gifts made of leather, with a variety of gifts to choose from. Selecting anything from a wallet, to a belt, to a purse cannot go wrong.

The vast overwhelming majority of men carry a wallet. Of those, the vast overwhelming majority have a leather wallet. The first thing to think about is the color. Does the person wear more black or brown? If he wears more black, a black wallet would go with more of his outfits. If he wears more brown, a brown wallet would go with more of his outfits. Does he carry a lot in his wallet? Does he have several credit cards and pieces of identification? If so, make sure that the wallet has slots to carry these cards. Does he keep his wallet in his back pocket or in his coat? Different wallets are available for either choice, so make sure to find out before buying a wallet.

Leather belts are a great gift for men. Leather belts can be worn with jeans, khakis, or pretty much any other type of pants besides athletic pants. You should try not to get cute when giving a leather belt as a gift. Stick to brown or black and stay away from odd colors, unless you know that the person would appreciate a colored belt. If you are purchasing a brown belt, gold/copper or silver buckles are acceptable. If you are purchasing a black belt, you should stick with a silver buckle. These are neutral colors that go with anything, making the belt versatile. Make sure that you know the person’s waist size, as belts come in different sizes. A good leather belt will last for years, so make sure that the style is neutral enough that it will not go out of fashion. Weave belts and belts with ornate buckles will not be worn near as much as a basic belt.

Let’s not forget about the ladies. Purses are a nice gift for almost any woman. Once again, neutral colors will make a purse more versatile, making a person more willing to carry it with several different outfits. Brown and black are the most neutral colors. If you know her personality and likes very well, or she has given a hint, you can pick out her favorite color. In addition to being pleasing to the eye, purses have a use. You should find out how many different things she likes to have with her when shopping for the purse. If she carries a lot, a larger purse might be in order. If she only takes a few things with her, smaller purses are available. Purses are subject to the rules of fashion much more than wallets or belts, so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t carry it for long.

Leather goods make great gifts. When in doubt, you cannot go wrong with a nice wallet, belt, or purse.