There was once a successful footwear company that had been making shoes and boots for over 100 years. The owner of which had worked there as a school leaver, gradually working his way to the top, gaining experience and knowledge about all the machinery and technical skills as he went.
However, times change and rising cost of production didn’t match the price people were willing to pay and the business started to fail. The owner, not wanting to lose his whole life’s work began to think up ways he could branch out into other areas.
Luckily a woman heard his plight and got in touch. She ran a store selling sexy lingerie and footwear and was having difficulty in sourcing such footwear in mens sizes. Making shoes to fit men wasn’t quite as easy as just putting heels on men’s boots, or just making women’s shoes in bigger sizes. They also needed strengthening and widening too. In other words, they needed to be made from scratch as a speciality.
Sadly, not all of his employees were happy with the changes and no longer wanted to be involved in his business. Also updating product catalogues became difficult and male sexy footwear models weren’t easy to come by. So, once again, the owner branched out. He shaved his legs, put the boots on, learnt to walk in heels and modelled them himself.
For a couple of wonderful years the owner enjoyed success but as with regular footwear, once an idea catches on, it becomes far cheaper to import it from abroad and so he went out of business.
You may recognise that beautiful story, it’s the true story behind the film and now musical ‘Kinky Boots’
Why have I chosen to tell you the tale of kinky boots? Well the footwear company that adapted into something brilliant in the face of adversity was local to me. I know what a tight knit community it is and I know how small communities can be in the face of change *twitches curtains to make sure no one is listening*.
So in my own way, I like to honour him and strut my stuff in my own kinky boots.