I was throwing it in general, not for this specific maker. I do think it would help for this person, as I think at this stage it's fair to ask "is he even making them?", but the main one would be (or would had been) to simply limit the amount of orders done at a certain time, as said before.
-
The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.
Kreosote Boots
- Thread starter dannyk
- Start date
there must be a forum for cobblers and shoemakers somewhere, if he has big orders a single person can't manage like special collaboration order from influencer while he has his hands full with fully paid orders, he can ask fellow cobblers in the area to help him to subcontract with the sole work, I think working on the sole are not too special compared to the special last and upper works
He doesn't even make the customers a last apparently.
But no he won't even have his own apprentices let alone work with a peer. He thinks it shows his authenticity.
I have an uncle who makes handmade moccasins. They are not super complicated Mocs very traditional native style. Super high quality and premium materials but he was the same way. I have a friend who’s super big into and worked for tons of places in my hometown doing high level marketing. I have my connections on places like here and other boot, jacket and denim places that would be interested. We volunteered to work for him at first for free just to get him fully going. And to learn the trade and take over one day. But he stayed super small scale making sales on his Etsy with no retirement plan and now he’s in his 60s and getting arthritis and can’t make as many or work with certain materials anymore. But he was similar to Gabbard. Just everything is made by hand by me. It was all his marketing was essentially. By hand by me. One maker. To a degree I get it. But you’ll never grow and never have a real career or make a real mark or hell retire comfortably if you’re not willing to learn, grow, accept help, or train the next generation.
I think for me the most fundamental issue here is that the reason many of us are into the whole "craft" thing is that we believe we're reviving a tradition or craft of whatever. Especially with the younger guys entering crafts.
But if the person is adamant on not having apprentices and so on, then that isn't happening. At least your uncle is an older generation; if you're a younger guy now getting into something like this, clearly something drew you. You're not serving your knowledge if you don't pass it on.
And indeed the apprentice system does a lot for quality control!
I have a lot of friends in the skilled trades. The apprentice/journeyman system creates the best, longest lasting and most skilled tradesman. Every now and then yeah you’ll find some self taught brilliant builder/maker and every now and then some natural savant comes along. But my buddies swear by the apprentice/journeymen system. Some complain they want to advance faster or take all the trainings at once, get more pay. But they never last. They make more mistakes. They drop out. They change careers. The ones that stick with it, learn from those wiser and more skilled and take advantage of all the trainings and courses on offer are the ones who make a real career out of it. Who move up the chain. Who becomes masters, owners of their own shop, and have the big houses and can afford the family vacation.
Featured products
-
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. -
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. -
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
My complaint is more that Gabbard actively boasts about not having apprentices, like that shows his quality.
Yeah I totally get that. I just added that to show it works! Like hey man it works! Nothing to fear. Nothing bad to say about it. The system works. Just use it. Plus if you’re as good as you say and truly appreciate the craft and history pass it down!
I recently became a customer at a place run by two real masters of the craft and was having trouble deciding between which of them I wanted to make my jacket, but it turned out one had retired. I was bummed for a moment then realized it's kind of the best of both worlds, because the one who's still there trained with the other (as well as decades of working at other firms) so really I am benefiting from both their experience either way.
I am from Buffalo New York, the owner of Parkhurst boots is from Buffalo. He was family friends with and then worked for a master cobbler here in Buffalo. I got to know Andrew the owner at a pop up he did here super early in his career. He even took me to meet the cobbler he trained with and inspired him. That’s what’s lost when you refuse to teach and pass on knowledge. That crusty old cobbler changed Andrew’s life and now his inspiration started a flourishing business which is also provided more good jobs and someday someone may buy a Parkhurst boot and be inspired to keep it going. Or Andrew will teach his family or some young punk like himself will come along and they will make the next best boots. Or become buffalos next master cobbler.
It's funny but I remember seeing a post from you years ago about the company and I didn't remember the name so I kept searching TFL with your username and boots in vain.
That’s funny. Yeah I was one of his first customers and one of if not the first person to post about his boots on TFL I think. That was so long ago now. But see it made an impact. Gotta pass the knowledge and love along.
If you’re an 8.5D I am selling a pair of Parkhurst Richmond’s in Gaucho Moose. Unworn. For 150 could maybe do more off retail. Amazing boots I just have too many and am trying to narrow it down to like my 3-4 favorites and actually focus on wearing them.
