For more than thirty years he has run Shoerecrafting, a traditional shoemaker in Bruges that repairs shoes by hand, the old way. The aim of every repair is simple: a shoe that is at least as good as it was when it was first made.
Luc learned the trade in leather goods and handmade shoes, including at the Belgian leather house Delvaux, and worked for several well-known houses before starting his own business. That background shows in his attention to detail, from the stitching along the edge of the sole to the finish of the upper. Recrafting is the English term for remaking a shoe from the bottom up, and that is exactly his speciality. Shoerecrafting is the Bruges shoemaker for people who would rather resole their Goodyear-welted shoes than replace them.
Many of the shoes that come in are Goodyear-welted or made with the Blake method. In a Goodyear construction, the upper, the insole and the sole are joined by a stitched leather strip, the welt, so the sole can be replaced several times without damaging the upper. Luc restitches leather and rubber soles and fits leather soles and dovetail heels from Rendenbach, or soles and heels from Dainite. Men’s and women’s shoes made in other ways are welcome too: they are repaired with materials that suit their construction. In the shop you will find English shoes from Loake and Barrett and shoes from the Belgian brand Ambiorix, alongside leather goods, belts, braces from Albert Thurston, socks, gloves from Dents, hats, scarves, slippers and walking sticks. For shoe care there is Saphir Médaille d’Or polish, brushes, shoe trees, insoles and laces. Part of the range is also available in the webshop.
Looking for a shoemaker in Bruges who still resoles Goodyear-welted shoes the traditional way? Shoerecrafting is on the Langestraat in Bruges city centre, within walking distance of the Burg. Bring in the shoes you want to keep wearing, and Luc will tell you what they need, whether that is a new heel, a half sole or a complete resoling. If you buy a classic pair, ask how to look after it so it lasts for years. Smaller jobs, such as new heel tips, are welcome too.