What East Dulwich needs is a cobbler...

[Sue]

:-$

[BJL]

karter Wrote:

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> isn't there one in the dry cleaners next to the

> post office on Lordship Lane?

Yes, there is.

[skip]

Guy next to post office, at rear of drycleaners has always fixed our shoes. Very pleasant man, prices cheaper than the shop towards the station, and not a shoe snob; happy to fix whatever you need fixed. Skip.

[Sue]

I have used both places.

If you have shoes which need care in repairing, I'd pay a little more and use the Grove Vale guy.

The guy in the drycleaners stuck heels intended for - erm - shoes with separate heels just as they were onto my lovely Hobbs wedges. So they looked very odd as there was a "step" where the new heel joined the old sole. This also made them strange to walk in.

The Grove Vale one cut the heel and sole so that they would retain the line of the existing sole. Money well spent, I felt :)

[bignumber5]

so no one has had anything made in merrifields, then?

I was thinking about it - no end of dodgy knee and back trouble i'm sure not made any better by cheap shoes - had a chat with the guy and he is pretty knowledgeable. Reports a qualification in podiatry and that he can make orthotic inserts/insoles that you can then put in any shoe, budgeting about ?70. Reckons they'd last 2 years with daily use.

If anyone has had anything made there that would sway me either way, please pipe up!

[Sue]

Anybody in this day and age who is making a living from making and mending shoes must be good at it, surely! :)

[Carrie]

Bignumber5 - I would just go for the orthotic inserts rather than having shoes made especially for you, OH had shoes made at Merrifields then decided he didn't really like them- a very expensive mistake! I have the inserts (though I got mine from the podiatrist at the Crystal Palace Sports Injury clinic - rather than from Merrifields) and they are great.

[bignumber5]

Sue - good point! Carrie - sound advice, thanks. Does the ?70 quote sound like the sort of ball-park you were in?

[Carrie]

I think I paid quite a bit more than that!

[Jennys]

the merryfields man has mended handbags for me too, as well as my son's sports bag. And, as other people have reported he has not charged for things like extra holes in belts.

[lorraineliyanage]

There's a good little cobblers in the indoor market in Peckham on Rye Lane if you fancy the long hike over there!

[MrBen]

Merrifields is still going strong - they're the last of the old school cobblers. A real gem in ED and currently repairing another set of my favourites. Recommended.

[mumra]

Not had a shoe made for me, but Merrifields practically rebuilt my favourite boots from scratch. Not cheap, but definitely worth it.

[Tarot]

I would like to congratulate everyone on this thread,who has actually bought shoes that are good enough to take to a cobbler.

Those horrible plastic rubber trainers,are trash,and ruined many a foot,smelly as well.

They were only ever meant for sports wear.

The cobbler in Lordship lane is efficient,does keys and things as well.

[jim_the_chin]

This is a pretty good Zombie thread - raised from the dead. 2 years and 8 months nearly between posts - is that an edf record?

[MrBen]

Indeed Jim. It predates the formation of the Recommended section circa 2009. But I'm happy to big up this wonder of local craftsmanship and shoe repair in the main section before it gets moved. They deserve it.

[MrBen]

Or would you prefer how to get to Heathrow again?

[oilworker]

The 400 quid quoted by a previous poster for bespoke shoes may seem expensive but it includes making the wooden last (which is an exact copy of your foot) upon which the shoes are made.(This is why these shoes dont need breaking in - they are comfortable from day 1). I expect all susbsequent shoes are much cheaper (unless of course your foot has changed shape in the mean time). I dropped in my favourite lofers for new heels and soles last saturday - 40 quid for a pair of shoes which will effectively be as good as new!!! Long live cobblers!!

[Ridgley]

I find the Cobblers in Peckham opposite the Library is very good and reasonable in price.

[MrBen]

oilworker you're right. ?400 is an expensive spurge for most but in terms of handcrafted shoes and man hours involved this is actually bargain. I met someone recently who gets shoes made from one of Britain's best last maker, a sprightly man now in his 80's. They were a wonder of handmade craft, with many hours involved but will cost you near two grand.

[mrs f]

?400 for bespoke shoes is a bargain, I know other bespoke shoe makers that charge a min of ?1000... And that is pretty normal I believe, mr Ben is right, you can also easily pay ?2000 for ones like the royals wear...

Although I hate to be technical & say the last maker would have only made the last then probably upto 5 other skilled people would have made the shoes... One measuring, one cutting the pattern, one cutting out the pieces, one sewing the pieces together & one lasting the shoe & attaching the sole. Of course one person can do all of this but they are actually very specialised roles & in top bespoke shoe makers they will be different people.

Yawn, sorry to go on...!

[ianr]

> I would like to congratulate everyone on this thread,who has actually bought shoes that are good enough to take to a cobbler.

> Those horrible plastic rubber trainers,are trash,and ruined many a foot,smelly as well.

How much ergonomic and physiological nous can one count on going into the making of bespoke shoes? I find myslf comfortable only in some trekking sandals and trainers, even cheap ones, and a very limited range of shoes, their common factor being that none has a noticeably raised heel. Could a bespoke cobbler be counted on to provide absolutely optimal comfort and efficiency? I'm not thinking of going to one, btw, just seeking clarity. I'm also thinking of the analytic apparatus that I gather some sports shoe shops have.

[Tanza]

My dad had a pair of shoes made at Merrifields and they were something gasp-inducing like ?400 but they are the most comfortable pair of shoes he's ever had and he's thrilled with them. Handmade shoes are way out of my budget, but my dad tells me from his research that ?400 is very reasonable compared to what you'd pay anywhere else in London.

[genwilliams]

The Peckham Rye guy is great, he charges absolute pennies and always does a really decent job. Friendly chap too.

Merrifields is okay as a second option (and I can't comment on the bespoke shoes as I've never had any) but I have been disappointed with repairs from there before (had new heel tips attached which then fell off after less than a week) so I usually favour the one in Rye Lane Market.

mrsw Wrote:

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> I know it's not ED, but there's an excellent shoe

> repairer who's very reasonable in the market on

> Rye Lane in Peckham.

[hat282]

I had my favourite pair of boots re soled and heeled at Merrifields and he did an amazing job - ?40.00 and probably another two years worth of wear before any more repairs needed.