In a modern society where excessive consumption is encouraged, a craft that values quality, durability and sustainability still stands firm, ready to welcome those who wish to preserve their possessions rather than throw them away.

For Jorge Carvalho, artisanal shoemaking is both a trade and a passion.


A noble profession

Once an administrative employee at a paper mill, he learned restoration by observing a former brother-in-law.

“Something about it drew me in, likely the manual aspect, which I enjoy.

In 1984, I left my job to pursue this profession,” he says.

Jorge Carvalho began working at home, and it was there that he realised he had a future in bespoke shoemaking. With the growing demand for repairs, he needed a dedicated space for his craft, so he opened his own shop.

“With every passing day, I learn more and more. For me, this is a truly noble profession and one I would like to see continue, but the trend is towards fewer and fewer shoemakers,” he says.

At 41-years-old, and after working in a number of shops, the master shoemaker, originally from Lisbon, found his home in Lagoa, in the Algarve – a region he was already quite familiar with, as it is his mother’s homeland.

With humanity living in an era where manual trades are being replaced by internet-based and office jobs, the demise of the shoemaking trade is a matter of concern for Jorge Carvalho. According to him, the government should encourage young people to take an interest in traditional crafts so they may be preserved. “At the moment, I feel perfectly capable of teaching the trade, but I believe government support is needed to spark young people’s interest,” says the master shoemaker.

He also raised an issue that is constantly discussed these days: sustainability.

Author: Cláudia Prima;

The soul in craft

Jorge Carvalho believes it is extremely important to provide repair services so that items with potential are not unnecessarily thrown away.

“No matter how cheap the items may have been – be they shoes, wallets, bags, coats, etc. – they should not be thrown away when they need repairing. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right professional who can give the items a new lease of life, and I am entirely available,” he says.

When asked what message he would like to convey to the readers of The Portugal News, Jorge Carvalho says: “You can expect everything from me, because I give 100%. I am available to answer any questions. I work with great pride and respect for my clients. Essentially, I really enjoy what I do, and this shines through in the work I deliver. I make a point of explaining and documenting every step of my procedures, so that clients know exactly everything I have done.”

Although social media did not exist at the start of his career, the craftsman chose to adapt to the new world and now considers it an essential tool.

On his Instagram page (@clinica.do.calcado.by.jorge), he posts a wealth of content related to his craft, thereby creating a digital showcase accessible to anyone with an interest.

In short, Jorge Carvalho shows that, in a fast-paced, modern, digital world, there are still those who can devote themselves body and soul to a craft that benefits the whole community.