passionate sole
A cobbler, not the type of sweet pie with hand made lattice design, this cobbler is an art form, but one we have often overlooked. The other type of cobbler, the mend your shoe type of cobbler. Have you ever looked at your shoes’ designs and wondered, “…how were they designed, how they were stitched? How did they first get made?”
Images from inside:
George Marinakes Shoe Service
Richmond, IN
2nd Generation Cobbler, George Marinakes
1st Generation: 1928
2nd Generation: 1952
3rd Generation: Yes
Originally from Greece, George has shared his passion with the community for decades — many members carry on generational stories of their visits to this unique shop. Now, George Marinakes is the sole “sole” store in Richmond, IN, due in part to many now buying throw away shoes. We have no need to repair our mass produced shoes from Finish Line or Target, right? We’re at a point now, where we’re looking more for fashion trends than craftsmanship. Where did that shift come from? How did we all condone that shift? Why do we all still condone that shift?
Headlines globally put the limelight on ways that our supply chains are unsustainable and deteriorating the environment, while simultaneously the next headline condones the mass consumption of fashion and decor.
On the reading hand, we as consumers, complain about big corporations, their lack of pay and unsustainable ways, but so many of us are flocking to the shoe lines for raffles and exclusive releases. Are we supporting the arts in those ways? Or are we condoning another energy sponge, that only thrives off of our mindless buys and nature’s energy?
“There will be trouble if the cobbler starts making pies.”
Some call it fast fashion, some convenient fashion, but to most of the current producers … it is simply profitable fashion.
However we want to hang the label, we’re ignoring the repercussions of our mass produced fashion. We went from salvage minded craftsmen with honesty in their skills…to quickly discarded, single use mentalities that are only there to ride the trend’s wave or find the money’s wave.
Somewhere, maybe in your home town, or your college town, or your current town … maybe there is a craftsman who is giving their all to their own trade. One they offer to the community…even if we continue to look the other way. Daily, they are there offering their trade. A trade that took decades to build, a trade that became their soul…the stitches keeping joy on their hearts.
How can we support more craftsmen locally? The expert ones, the young ones, the curious ones. There are a lot of minds providing services today that could be one day, forgotten trades. It would be due to demands for quickly made. From the cobblers, the pottery makers, to the technology innovators, our backyards are filled with ingenious minds…we all have an art to share, an art to build.
What if we all stayed true to our art, would our collective joy then stay? Would our communities then shape into forms designed in a collective way instead of a top down way? Maybe it’s just a little polish and practice and we can all learn how to piece together our communities with purpose and passion? Or maybe then we can witness how quickly our community’s local services could potentially provide us with more than the box stores who currently entice us?
George is 92 years old, use this to remember … you can always live your passion. When we witness a mind work. one that loves their trade beyond the monetary exchange, it’s inspiration that reflects a new light to us…there can a better way. We first need the passionate hands to build the better way.
LET YOUR TRADE OPEN DOORS FOR YOU TO BE THE CHANGE.
We can all be the change, no matter our trade.
We simply must live the ways in which we wish to see change.