Index
Intro
Shoe repairers repair footwear and shoemakers make specialized and custom shoes and boots. They are employed in shoe repair shops or custom shoemaking establishments, or they may be self-employed.
Shoe repairers may progress to shoemakers with experience.
Main Duties
Shoemakers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Discuss type of footwear to be made and obtain measurements from customer
- Select patterns and leather or other material and outline and cut patterns
- Select or assemble lasts, fasten insoles to lasts and sew or glue other parts into place
- Trim, dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes
- Estimate custom footwear costs and receive payment from customers
- May supervise other shoemakers and shoe repairers.
Shoe repairers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Repair soles, heels and other parts of footwear using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials and equipment
- Repair belts, luggage, purses and similar products
- Estimate footwear repair costs and take payment.
Employment Requirements
- Some secondary school may be required.
- Several months of on-the-job training is provided for shoe repairers.
- Extensive on-the-job training is provided for shoemakers.
- Shoemakers may require experience as shoe repairers.
All Titles
- boot repairerboot repairman, boot repairwoman
- bootmaker
- cobblershoe repairman, shoe repairwoman
- custom shoemaker
- orthopedic shoe repairman/womanorthopedic shoe repairman, orthopedic shoe repairwoman
- orthopedic shoemaker
- shoe dyer
- shoe mender – retailshoe repairman – retail, shoe repairwoman – retail
- shoe repairer
- shoe repairer – retail
- shoemaker
Exclusions
- Labourers in shoe manufacturing (See 9619 Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities)
- Workers who cut fabric or leather to form shoe parts on a production basis (See 9445 Fabric, fur and leather cutters)
- Workers who operate sewing machines to make shoes on a production basis (See 9446 Industrial sewing machine operators)