No. 17
Scott McKee
Scott McKee is 30 years old and from Northampton. For the last 7 years he has been Trickers' bespoke shoemaker. This means he makes shoes, 'Made to Measure', for each client, to their individual requirements.
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Trickers bespoke shoes cost from £1000 and will usually take around fourteen weeks to produce. This includes crafting components, drying time at various stages, a second 'try on' by the client and over 230 hand processes. Even the thread used to sew in the welt is handmade.
Scott took time out from a busy day at Trickers to talk to NorthamptonshireLeather.com about his career.
'My Dad and brothers were involved in the shoe industry, but it never appealed to me. I tried out a number of other jobs. I was an apprentice chippy for a while, I tried carpet fitting, and I worked in a sports shop. But in 1996 my Dad got me a position working in the closing room at Par UK. Closing is usually a woman's work in a shoe factory and there I was, 16 years old surrounded by older women. It was nerve wracking and terrifying at times, but on the whole a good experience. They were very kind to me.
Sadly, Par UK closed and we were all made redundant. On the day the redundancies were announced, the entire factory emptied in a race to their cars to get around the other shoe firms to be first in line for any work.
I worked at Church's for a short time. I then applied for a job at Trickers only to find my Dad had also applied. Needless to say, youth and talent won the day. Luckily he was OK when I got it. He said he wanted a change anyway.
After a while, the foreman asked if I would like to learn more processes. I spent the next seven years developing my skills in bench-making, sewing welts, soling, finishing and so on. I wanted to become multi-skilled.
I was then called into the Production Managers Office. He complimented my improved skills, my positive attitude to learning. He said I had an excellent eye for detail and an artistic bent, which I had perhaps never appreciated before. He said I was ideal for hand-making. Since then I have been further developing my skills.
Bespoke makers like me, undertake a lot of orthopaedic work, as we can accommodate any foot or gait related condition in a handmade pair of shoes. You are always learning to solve new problems. It can be quite pressurised as good leather is very expensive and once it's cut to shape, very valuable indeed and you only have one shot at it.
I represent the company by demonstrating hand making to the public. I have travelled to Florence and Tokyo. I have demonstrated at Harrods, the Burleigh Horse Trials and Trickers' flagship store in Jermyn St London. Hand demonstrations are extremely popular with all ages. The public are absolutely fascinated and I enjoy doing it. On one occasion an elderly gentlemen passed on his shoemaking tools from a lifetime making footwear. This was very special and I still use them.
My clients sometimes send me thank you notes and I've even had a fruitcake sent to me. I am very proud of the shoes I produce.
Roy Martyniak, Sales Manager at Trickers said, "We are very proud of Scott's progress and very appreciative of his long term commitment to developing his skills"
www.trickers.com
photographer credit www.jaynewest.co.uk
