SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Boot Maker
  • Cobbler
  • Leather Worker
  • Saddle and Harness Maker
  • Shoe Cutter
  • Shoe Maker
  • Shoe Repairer
  • Shoe Repairman
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What do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers do?

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers are skilled artisans who specialize in the construction, repair, and restoration of leather goods, specifically footwear, bags, and other leather products. This trade involves a variety of tasks including the stitching, patching, and re-soling of shoes, as well as cleaning, conditioning, and refurbishing leather items to extend their lifespan and enhance their appearance. The role requires a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of different types of leather and materials, as well as techniques for working with them. In addition to hands-on craftsmanship, these workers often provide customer service by discussing repair options, advising on the best care practices, and ensuring customer satisfaction. In an era increasingly focused on sustainability, Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers play a vital role in promoting the longevity of leather goods, reducing waste, and advocating for the repair and reuse of materials rather than their disposal. Overall, this career combines creativity, technical skills, and a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship in the traditional and evolving world of leather goods.

What the work actually is

  • Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
  • Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
  • Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
  • Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
  • Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Less than high school diploma

A normal week

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Handling and Moving Objects

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Accounting software Bookkeeping software · Financial accounting software
  • Point of sale POS software Sale processing software
  • Inventory management software Inventory tracking software

Tools

  • Sewing machines Automatic sole stitchers · Industrial sewing machines · Outside stitching machines
  • Leather cutting machines Bench trimmers · Leather skivers · Mini leather cutters
  • Awls Leather awls · Leather punchers
  • Hammers Shoe hammers · Tack hammers
  • Blade sharpener Knife sharpeners · Scissor sharpeners

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Artistic

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

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Questions people ask

How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers earn in South Africa?

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers do?

Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes, Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses and Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.