Shoe Craft Oakham Ltd

General information

Generations of my ancestors have been involved in making and repairing shoes. In the late 1920s, my Father opened his shop in Nairobi employing 68 shoemakers throughout the shops history. The shop became known as one of the finest shoemakers in East Africa and was visited by Hollywood movie stars while they were filming in the area. They included Tarzan actors Johnny Weissmuller and Lex Barker plus Kirk Douglas, Rock Hudson and Michael Caine (they even gave us autographs!) Desert boots and mosquito boots (from crocodile and leopard skins) were skilfully made by the shoemakers from drawing the pattern to hand stitching the footwear before restrictions were enforced.

I learnt my trade as a small boy by watching and learning the art of shoe making and repairing by the skilled craftsmen employed by my father. After moving to Great Britain in 1984, I continued to work in the shoe trade until I opened Shoecraft in 1992 in Oakham where I am still based.

The Shoecraft family has always taken great pride in their professionalism and customer service, a mantra which is still carried on today.

Here at Shoecraft we only use the best materials to repair shoes and believe in quality workmanship.

Surendra Jethwa