Giorgos Kelpis

Shoemaker

Steady steps go far

Giorgos merges family knowledge in shoe making with his studies
He finds joy in offering comfort to people with feet problems
He uses high quality materials and techniques

Giorgos Kelpis followed in his father's footsteps to became one of the very few shoe makers on the island. He studied Footwear and Accessories Design in Florence and when he returned to Cyprus he put his love and passion for his craft into action. They had their family shop refurbished and he made his first pair of boots for their shop contractor. Employing a combination of old British expertise and refined Italian techniques, Giorgos creates contemporary footwear in the old city centre of Paphos. Though his profession is threatened by the mass-produced shoes that are widely available on the market, he manages to distinguish himself and his craft by offering custom made shoes that provide comfort and support to people with feet problems or people whose shoe size is not offered on the market.

Interview

Why did you become a shoe maker?: My father was a shoe maker. He had worked in the UK for more than 35 years before opening his own shop in Cyprus. I used to help him in summer holidays and when I was 16 I decided that I wanted to follow in his footsteps. There is much freedom for creativity in this work.
How do you manage to keep your craft alive?: Once there was a shoe maker in every village. Now people’s needs have changed. Mass produced shoes dominate the market. However we offer solutions that cannot be found in the market. We make shoes of very small or big sizes and for people with feet problems.
What do you love most about your job?: I love creating new designs. I am also delighted every time we help a customer with feet problems. I remember a lady who used to wear only men's shoes and sandals before coming to us, and her joy when she wore her first made-to-measure ladies shoes that we made for her.
What does well made mean to you?: Well made is not only a nice looking product. It involves various steps, numerous trials and the use of quality materials. It is a time consuming process, not known to the majority. This explains why our custom made shoes cost more, but they definitely last longer and treat your feet more gently.

Giorgos Kelpis is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2014