Mosh, how did you become a shoemaker?

I was born in Ramat Gan. In the late eighties, when I was a child, we moved to Kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar, and my mother married the shoemaker of the kibbutz, Shaul. He had been working at the workshop for fifty years. The workshop itself has been operating since 1934, and he joined the team. In 2010, I did  my degree in economics and wrote a business plan for reopening the workshop. Since the government invested over half a million shekels in preserving the building and the equipment, and my father retired, I felt obligated to take on the project. 

So you work in a workshop that has been around for 90 years?

Yes. It used to be a local shoe factory that made shoes for the kibbutz. Every kibbutz had something like this. The first shoemaker here was a woman named Bluma Gelstein.

Are the designs of the products the same as they were 90 years ago?

I continue to craft shoes and sandals in the same style as those made in the past. I keep the original line of desing. This is part of what makes this place unique. I don't do fashion, there are no seasonal collections and I don't create modern items. Everything is crafted by hand, in the spirit of the past.

What materials do you use?

I only use leather for all parts of the shoes, and opting for buckles instead of Velcro. The leather is processed and colored by hand on-site. The soles are made of various synthetic materials, specifically designed for soles. There are also soles made of leather, but it is not really recommended.

How long does it take you to make a pair of items?

It takes me about an hour to make a pair of sandals, around five hours for a pair of shoes, Dr. Martens style, and seven to eight hours for boots.

Do you use modern tools?

The tools, equipment, and machines I use are essentially the same as those used in the past. I work with machines that are nearly a century old. I have various sewing machines and a wide array of hand tools such as hammers and specialized pliers. I use glue and nails, just like in the old days. Everything is done by hand, with as little modernization as possible.

Do you also offer repairing services?

 I occasionally do repairs but the goal is to keep it as a shoe manufacturing workshop

In a world of fast fashion, how connected are people to traditional crafts?

Less and less people consume products of this type.That's why my workshop has also become a tourist destination, as groups visit to hear the story of the place and participate in workshops. These kinds of crafts are disappearing as people prefer quick and cheap purchases, opting to replace products frequently.

You are a part of a global community of a disappearing craft.

It's a great honor. A year ago, I was in Italy and expected to see many shoemakers. However, I didn't manage to find even one. In Israel, the number of people who still make shoes can be counted on one hand. There are more who offer repair services, especially in the big cities. In my area, the Upper Galilee, I am the only one. I will likely remain the last one and turn off the light as I leave.

Do you think any of your children will want to continue?

I have three teenage children, and I really hope that one of them will want to continue the craft. My 14-year-old daughter shows interest, but I don't pressure her. Whatever happens, happens.

Do you sell only in Israel or also abroad?

 Almost all of my sales are within Israel and exclusively at my workshop. I don't distribute to stores because it's important to me that people come to the workshop. I don't believe in selling shoes online because shoes need to be tried on and tested for comfort, which is difficult to do online. After attempting to sell abroad for several years, I've concluded that my focus should remain on selling locally to customers who visit my workshop.

Contact Mosh Harel:

Website: www.sandlariya.co.il

Instagram: @sandlariya