Visit to the Beaumarchais Workshop
ALL ABOUT THE SHOE REPAIR!
We were welcomed at the Beaumarchais Workshop, where since 1979, master cobblers, bootmakers, and leather artisans have dedicated their expertise to serving clients with all types of repairs on shoes, boots, or leather bags.
The Heel Tip
An Essential
Fitting a heel tip is crucial to ensure your shoes last over time! It prevents water from seeping into the seams and protects the leather sole from premature wear.
How is a heel tip fitted?
The Preparation
The cobbler first marks a groove along the sole to define where the heel tip will be embedded. This is the sanding stage: the sole, heel, everything is prepared to ensure optimal adhesion! The color of the heel tip is chosen for aesthetic reasons, matching the shoe’s color.
The final step in preparation is called gluing. Hélène applies neoprene glue to the soles and the inside of the heel tips. We let it dry for a few moments before proceeding to attachment!
The Fitting
Once all preparation steps are complete, the heel tip is glued onto the sole. Hélène carefully removes any bubbles that may have formed between the heel tip and the sole! After giving a few taps with a mallet to secure the heel tip firmly, the press is used to finalize the attachment. The shoe is placed on a form before being positioned under the press.
Finishing
Our heel tip is now securely attached! We will remove any excess heel material with a cutter, then trim the sole and heel for a uniform look. The last step in the process is attaching the metal heel plate.
Hélène explains: “Many cobblers cut the part underneath the heel plate, but this can allow water to seep in under the plate and into the shoe! That’s why we don’t cut the heel tip but thin it as much as possible to leave enough space for the heel plate and protect the leather sole.”
The heel plate is fixed to the shoe either with nails or brass screws.
After a final pass on the grinder, it’s time to apply a liquid wax called “dèforme,” which recolors and waterproofs the leather.
Once we've sanded it down, the result is stunning, and your shoe is ready to face the challenges of the outside world!
The Beaumarchais Workshop has two retail locations in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. The Beaumarchais shoemaking workshop is located at 59 boulevard Beaumarchais, primarily specializing in fitting soles and heels, as well as resoling and all maintenance and repair work (polishing, stitching) on shoes. The Beaumarchais Atelier is situated at 30 rue de Turbigo, where artisans handle restoration and repairs related to leather goods.
