Stitching progress: a shoe at a time

A shoe repairman fixes broken shoes on a sidewalk in Marikina City on Wednesday, 27 November 2024. Marikina City is renowned for its shoemaking industry and its reputation for creating world-class shoes.

Jaymar, 28, sits at one of the busiest crossings in the city, repairing shoes.

Jaymar, 28, sits at one of the busiest crossings in the city.Aram Lascano

Published on:

27 Nov 2024, 20:36

The City of Marikina is best known for their shoemaking industry and hold the Guinness World Record for creating the biggest shoe in the world.Aram Lascank

Jaymar sits and works beside his sign that reads "Palit Swelas" (change soles) as he carefully mends a pair of shoes. This makeshift shop has become a testament to Marikina City's enduring legacy of shoemaking and craftsmanship.Aram Lascano

Jaymar has been running a makeshift shop for years, an inheritance passed down from his father.Aram Lascano

At the early age of 13, Jaymar learned the art of stitching—a craft he says was taught to him by his father.Aram Lascano

Today, Jaymar continues to stitch footwear, mending gaps for others to keep moving forward while progressing with his own journey.Aram Lascano

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