In the era of mass production, where trainers are trending and owned by almost every individual, Sheffield has one of the endangered craftsmen who continues to shape wood into shoes, with patience, passion and unchanged by time.
Simon Brock is amongst the very few professional clogmakers in the UK, who is preserving the almost disappearing heritage craft.
He said: “I imagine that other people probably think that I come to work every day with a great sense of being almost the last person practicing a very endangered craft, but I don’t really think about that. It’s not why I started doing it and it’s not really why I keep doing it.
“The reason why I keep doing it is because I enjoy the work. Working for myself suits me. I quite like my own company.”
Based in Walkley, Sheffield, Mr Brock stepped into the industry professionally in 2018. He practiced for around seven to eight years before selling his first clog.
He said: “Pretty much the first thing you ask somebody when you meet them is, what do you do?
“And when I say I’m a clog maker, it’s normally the most interesting answer in the room. And then typically we spend a long time talking about clog making and not very time talking about other people’s living.”
Traditionally, Clogs were worn by labourers working in industrial towns due to their durability and affordability.
Made partially or entirely from wood, the shoes are known for their sturdy timber soles.
Mr Brock comes from a furniture making background and has graduated from the Leeds College of Art in furniture making.
During his years in the profession, Mr Brock has handcrafted nearly 1200 pairs of shoes and most of his customers are either step dancers or morris dancers.
The durability of the shoes is what fascinates Mr Brock the most.
“I am sometimes repairing clogs that are 70, 80 years old. People just carry on wearing. So you get 80 years out of a pair of shoes. That’s not bad.”
To visit Mr Brock website, click here.