Learn this valuable skill that could benefit you not only in a future career, but in your life. Sign up for a class at your school or in your community, or utilize online resources.  

Take a sewing class. 

Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Check out this video of an old director's chair restoration to learn more about the skills,  tools, and processes involved in leather working.

Watch a leather working project in action!

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Third Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Shoe and Leather Workers

Production Occupations

Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers

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.

Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.

Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.

Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.

Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.

Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.

Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.

Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.

Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.

Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.

Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs.

Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.

Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers.

Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose.

Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.

Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.

Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.

Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.

Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue.

Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.

Measure customers for fit, and discuss with them the type of footwear to be made, recommending details such as leather quality.

Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.

Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.

Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Overview

Career

What Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Do

Other Job Titles Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Overview

Career

What Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Do

Other Job Titles Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders