A custom-made pair of shoes made last a lifetime is a wise luxury to invest in — though one that fewer and fewer people seem to be doing. Keeping the tradition alive in a beautiful shop in Wilmersdorf is Korbinian Ludwig Hess, a shoemaker whose work embodies the art of craftsmanship. Each pair is unique and is measured, designed and sewn by hand. Korbinian was trained at Rudolf Scheer & Söhne, a Viennese bespoke shoemaker rich in tradition, and learned everything there is to know about ray leather loafers in London, Munich and Leipzig. After eight years of sanding, stitching and polishing, he has now moved into his own workshop on Hohenzollerndamm, a setting wonderfully reminiscent of bygone days. From the very first measurement to the final presentation, it takes the shoemaker 100 hours to perfect the luxury item, all without the use of machines. Anyone who accompanies Korbinian through his creation process may suddenly find the elegant boutiques on Ku’Damm a few meters away rather unoriginal and uninspired. Anything that is truly “handcrafted,” after all, is in a different league altogether. (Text: Anna-Lena Jehle / Photos: Tommi Aittala, Martin Smolka)
Korbinian Ludwig Heß Maßschuhe, Hohenzollerndamm 201, 10717 Berlin-Wilmersdorf; map
By appointment only: Call +49 (0)30 40749569. Facebook, Instagram
Anna-Lena Jehle’s work for Mini Living inspires her to think about the future of urban life. She lives between Berlin and Munich.
