- Title: Ipanema’s 89-year-old cobbler holds onto a dying trade in Brazil
- Date: 14th August 2019
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - JULY 20, 2019) (REUTERS) COBBLER JOAQUIM GOMES DA SILVA WAITING FOR THE BUS SO HE CAN GO TO WORK, BOARDS BUS GOMES DA SILVA SITTING ON BUS, HEADING TO WORK GOMES DA SILVA CROSSING THE STREET GOMES DA SILVA OPENING UP SHUTTER TO HIS SHOP GOMES DA SILVA TURNING ON LIGHTS AT HIS SHOP VARIOUS OF GOMES DA SILVA CLEANING SHOE USING OLD-FASHIONED COBBLING MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COBBLER, JOAQUIM GOMES DA SILVA, SAYING: "It (cobbler profession) is in extinction. Perhaps over 70% (of cobblers) have shut shop and also (cobblers) too (have given up) because before I had never worked alone before. Currently I'm working alone. I once worked with two, three, four others and even now with me on my own I still have extra time." RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - AUGUST 2, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GOMES DA SILVA WORKING ON SOLE FOR A SHOE RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - JULY 20, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COBBLER, JOAQUIM GOMES DA SILVA, SAYING: "I feel good. I feel this profession has served me well, working on something that I like is very good. I was never ambitious. I was invited on many occasions to pursue a different path but I've always liked this here (being a cobbler)." RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - AUGUST 2, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GOMES DA SILVA HAMMERING TIP ONTO HIGH HEEL GOMES DA SILVA HANDING OVER SHOE TO CLIENT AND RECEIVING PAYMENT RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - JULY 20, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COBBLER, JOAQUIM GOMES DA SILVA, SAYING: "(In Portugal) when people handed over their shoes it had to be done quickly. The boss checked that it was done correctly and if it wasn't then you had to correct it. You didn't earn a lot, also there wasn't a lot of work. That was one of the reasons at that time that brought me (to Brazil)." GOMES DA SILVA PLACING TOOL ON WORK TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COBBLER, JOAQUIM GOMES DA SILVA, SAYING: "It (Brazil) is my second country. I like it, I like it a lot. I like everything about it. Apart from the discomfort of people not being safe, the rest I like a lot. I like the vibe of the people, I like the weather. If I had stayed in Portugal I would have come (to Brazil) because I don't like the cold. But I like it here in Brazil." GOMES DA SILVA TALKING TO LOYAL CLIENTS GOMES DA SILVA TALKING TO IPANEMA LOCALS, LOCALS TALKING UP PRAISES OF COBBLER (NOT A SOUNDBITE)
- Embargoed: 28th August 2019 17:59
- Keywords: Brazil cobbler trade Ipanema people
- Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001AS6XVLV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: This 89-year-old cobbler has been a fixture at Rio's famous beachside suburb of Ipanema for over 60 years.
With more consumers planting their feet in throwaway shoes, this one man might seem like a relic from the past but don't tell that to Joaquim da Silva, Rio de Janeiro's oldest cobbler.
Walking into da Silva's shoe repair shop is like stepping back in time - the scent of leather and shoe polish fills the air as the steady beat of decades-old sewing machine rattles on. A lot of heart goes into this cobbler's work, but he's saving fewer soles these days.
But don't feel sorry for this cobbler. Da Silva tells Reuters he loves his job even if there is less of it.
He repaired his first pair of shoes at the age of 11. Da Silva migrated to Brazil from Portugal in the aftermath of World War 2, opening up his little store in Ipanema where he offered European shoe craftsmanship to the people of Ipanema.
But over the decades, Ipanema has changed from a working-class suburb to the chic beach destination that now attracts millions from around the world.
Despite his age, Da Silva has no plans to retire, he wants to keep saving soles and help revive this dying profession.
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