Is there anyone in the custom sneaker scene that's shifting the culture quite like Dominic Chambrone? Better known as The Shoe Surgeon, Chambrone grew up like so many of us: obsessed with sneakers, but unsure of how to channel the passion into a profitable and meaningful career. He ended up building on the knowledge he picked up in the shoe repair business and eventually blossomed into a self-taught shoemaker who's been responsible for some of the most creative and hyped-up customs in recent memory.
Instead of giving you our version, we'll let Chambrone tell you himself. The 29-year-old was the most recent guest on Jerry Ferrara's Bad 4 Business podcast, where he dropped a ton of knowledge surrounding everything from his early days as a fledgling cobbler, to his wildly successful "Misplaced Checks" collaborations with John Geiger. This is definitely one you won't want to miss. Here are 15 Things We Learned From Jerry Ferrara's Podcast With The Shoe Surgeon.
He wants people to wear his work.
He doesn’t like being called a customizer.
He added personal touches to the 'Entourage'-inspired Jordans he made for Jerry.
He started customizing because all his friends were wearing the same sneakers.
He never thought he would make a living from sneakers.
He got depressed when everyone wanted python Jordans.
He prefers to work alone.
He didn't want to release the "Misplaced Checks" Air Force 1 customs.
He says Nike's quality is better than people think.
He went to three different cobblers as a kid before one finally taught him.
He wants to revitalize the shoe repair industry.
He always gets lowball offers, but if people won't pay the price, there's always someone who will.
He spent 40 hours making Jerry's 'Entourage'-inspired Jordan 1s.
He's said no to big name celebrities.
He'll repair your customs if anything goes wrong.
