shoemaker

Small trader dealing with the processing of leather and the making of simple footwear. According to medieval practices shoemakers also processed their own leather material themselves. This was mainly tanned leather but there is data available from the 16th century which describes the rights of shoemakers of leather whitening (aluminous leather made by tanners used to be white). This made shoemakers become more serious competitors for tanners. Boots of Ottoman and Turkish origin that came into fashion at the time were made by boot-makers and this was to the disadvantage of shoemakers. Shoemakers changed their profile and began to produce bocskors (Hungarian style moccasin) and to repair worn footwear. Later they even processed leather for boots and harnesses.

TI