Daniel started in shoes at the age of 19 in 1999 as an apprentice cobbler.

He worked at a cowboy boot and roper factory for a little while and also at a shoe findings warehouse to learn as much as possible about all the available hardware and materials.

Daniel ran a shop on his own in 2001 then worked at an orthotic/prosthetic clinic as a technician for a couple years.

In 2004 he opened his first shop in Winnipeg Manitoba. He bought and renovated the building and lived in the upstairs apartment and rented out the second storefront.

Daniel flipped that building in 2007 and moved out to Vancouver to do something completely different yet quickly started working at a couple repair shops to learn the making of shoes.

Daniel moved to New York in 2010 and in 2011 opened a shop/studio in Brooklyn that was by appointment only. Since taking over the hat factory in Queens 2013, Daniel continues to take courses and workshops from such masters as Marcell Mrsan.

Daniel was recently honored to host workshops of my design “Shoe Care and Maintenance for Your Sole” at the MoMA in New York during their fashion exhibit “Items: Is Fashion Modern?”

Photos

Scott Rounds

Sterling Batson