Cobbler
Who in the modern age thinks of where their shoes come from? I mean, we just go to an outlet or giant supermarket like Walmart to get a comfortable pair for every and all occasions. Swim shoes, sandals, flip flops, flats, boots, tennis shoes, running shoes, rubber shoes, non-slip shoes... they are all there on the shelf in a variety of sizes. So, what about in the medieval age? I mean, where did people get their shoes between the 10th and 13th centuries?
A cobbler is the most underrated and overlooked profession of all time. Medieval shoes were made by cobblers who also repaired all types of shoes. However, medieval cobblers mainly made and repaired shoes for the common people. As for the nobility, they had their own shoemaker who was known as a cordwainer. He made luxury shoes with various styles that were exclusive to the nobility. Compared to the cobblers, cordwainers had more established businesses. The various materials and forms of shoes during this time ranged, depending on raw materials available.
For example, the most common element used in the making of medieval shows was leather. Its quality, however, varied over the centuries. During the early medieval times, the leather of low quality was used while late medieval times opened up European trade with the rest of the world and high-quality leather became accessible. Other materials used in making shoes included wool and fur and in the middle east, sandals were lined with satin, silk, and fur padding. Syres had always preferred a solid sandal over an over-the-toe boot, as was common in the colder northern countries of Europe. However, Syres knew that shoes were becoming more of a status symbol than practical use objects.
He knew only one cobbler in his lifetime, meeting him in the far east in Cambay, India. He was a Buddhist man, who found pleasure in making shoes for the poor. Usually, Syres would never notice someone like that, having interacted with several over his lifetime but never actually having a conversation with them.
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