From Redundancy to Restoring Boots: A Conversation with Cobbler G
- Steve Mellor
- Jul 30
- 7 min read
If you've watched many shoe restoration videos on YouTube, you've probably come across Mark, better known as Cobbler G. What started as a way of showing friends and family what he did at work has grown into one of the biggest shoe repair channels on YouTube, introducing thousands of people to the craft of traditional cobbling.
As George Barnsley is a supplier of tools to Timpson, we'd spotted Mark using one of our hammers in his videos, so we got in touch to find out more about his journey into the trade, the repairs he enjoys most, and the tools he couldn't be without.
"I completely fell into the trade"
You didn't come into this the traditional way. What was that journey like?
"I completely fell into the trade at random, after being made redundant I was looking for something that would allow me to earn some money while I pursued something in the line of my university degree in Audio Engineering.
Timpson came up as an opportunity to explore, and not knowing anything about the trade or really what a cobbler was I decided to give it a go and see if I would like it.
I am so glad I did because as soon as I stepped in the workshop I completely fell in love with the craft and really found a passion I never ever thought I would be interested in!"
The repair that changed everything
Was there a moment you realised you'd found your trade?
"I trained under a 5th Generation Cobbler in Dunfermline who immediately got me working on the machines.
He was very surprised at how quickly I managed to pick things up, I remember my first sticky sole and heel job on a pair of Loake Shoes, and after a few botched attempts previously on training shoes, I managed to work properly on a customers pair of shoes and make a pretty nice job for only doing the job for 3 weeks, that I was extremely happy with!
Seeing the before and after results sparked something in me and never working with my hands In this capacity, I got a load of confidence seeing my skills evolve quickly and get better with each repair job."
Saving boots everyone else has given up on
One thing that's obvious from Mark's videos is that he enjoys the jobs most people avoid.
Why are those the ones you enjoy most?
"I absolutely love it when I am able to rescue a pair of shoes or boots from the landfill.
I like to take on the most complex jobs (re-welting, new footbed, lining repairs etc.) that pretty much every other Timpson branch will refuse because they think its not possible or they know they don't have the skillset for.
It is definitely the most satisfying seeing an extremely worn out pair come back to life step by step during the restoration process, nothing beats that feeling!"
More than just a pair of boots
When asked what makes a pair worth saving, Mark's answer wasn't really about the footwear.
"When an expensive pair come in that are in a very bad condition but the customer has a sentimental value towards them that's the jobs I know I have to try and save.
Those jobs mean a lot as sometimes they are their favorite pair which have been with them through important memories throughout their life, others are passed down from father to son and they want to be able to walk in the boots their father once did.
I think these jobs are the most rewarding to bring back to life!
Almost anything with the right mindset and skill can be brought back even if it means re designing them slightly.
The too far gone ones usually are the shoes made to be one time use and disposable, for the cost to buy them new can be cheaper than repairing them so those are usually the jobs that are not viable for the customer, but again it all comes down to how attached they might be to them."
The repair that tested everything he'd learned
Mark recalls one particularly memorable pair of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots.
"I recently had in a pair of Wolverine 1000 mile boots which had been repaired (BADLY) and they were literally falling apart.
The welt stitches had been sanded off during the last repair so they were coming loose from the boot. The half sole they put on top wasn't secured properly and flapping off after a couple of wears, they missed the welt when stitching and stitched through the upper and the footbed, something I had never seen before, I don't even know how they managed that!
So at each stage of taking off materials I found more and more hidden issues inside. What I thought would be a straightforward fix turned into a complete rebuild with new leather footbeds, gemming, cork, welts, upper stitch repairs, leather midsoles and outsoles.
The boot was completely rebuilt from nothing! It was very satisfying to see them slowly come back to life! It took all I had learned to get them back to their former glory!"
The one tool that never leaves the bench
As toolmakers, we couldn't resist asking about favourite workshop tools.
"I have one tool which is the best I own which i got sent to me by a Canadian Cobbler.
Now I'm not sure of the name of it, but the Americans call it a heel pry or a heel popper, basically a long piece of solid steel with a yellow handle, which is great for getting under a removing heel blocks with ease.
I also use it to press down the welt, for spreading cork inside shoes and many other applications, its definitely become my go to tool for many applications during the repair process I don't know what I'd do without it!"
(There's going to be a few Sheffield-made tools joining it!)
We've recently been in contact with Jim McFarland - Americas Cobbler and hope to be reproducing this tool soon.
Learning from YouTube
Who inspired you while you were learning?
"Thanks! When I realised I really enjoyed the craft I went full tunnel vision and focused on every aspect to be the best I could be. I really didn't realise how much could actually be fixed on shoes, It wasn't until I watched YouTube videos of Bedos Leather Works, Steve is an incredible craftsman.
I would watch him completely strip shoes apart and repair all parts of them and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities that the trade brings! I bought myself several pairs of shoes from charity shops, ripped them apart and practiced putting them back together again, carefully dissecting them and reverse engineering how they were put together.
Through a lot of trial and error and figuring it out as I went along with the help of Steve at Bedos videos I managed to teach myself all of the bigger restoration jobs and this has made me able to repair even the most destroyed boots and shoes into wearable again!"
"It looks easy…"
One of the biggest misconceptions?
"I think the main misconception is that its easy and quick to learn, but it definitely isn't!
It takes a lot of time and patience to work out how certain parts are done properly. I get many comments saying how easy i make it look in my videos.
What they don't see is the hours of training and practice that has gone into it over the last 7 years to make it come across that its easy!"
Favourite jobs
These days Mark finds himself working on Red Wing boots more than almost anything else.
But his favourite projects?
"I've really begun to enjoy doing boots more than shoes. Especially Redwings, they have become my most worked on Boots recently, I do several of them every week.
My favourite jobs though are the customisations, not just a straight forward resole job. When the customer comes to me with a vision of how they want them to look I get a lot of satisfaction bringing that vision to reality for them!"
Building a community
Mark never expected YouTube to become what it has.
"Never in a million years! And I never started intending it would go anywhere. I initially started it after seeing Brian The Bootmaker on YouTube resole boots and I thought, I could do that!
So I started uploading just for myself and to show friends and family what I do at work, and it just grew itself. I started taking it seriously in 2023 after seeing it grow, and its just taken its own path since.
I've built such a cool community of shoe enthusiasts, other cobblers and people who aren't even into shoes or boots but find the craft soothing and therapeutic what is really cool!"
What's next?
Mark isn't slowing down.
He's keen to expand into more complex internal repairs, continue improving his videos and, unsurprisingly...
"I'd like to get my hands on loads of tools, old iron tools, bunk wheels, knives, hand groovers etc. to elevate the finish on the repairs to look more like a factory finished pair.
I'd love to work more on the inside of shoes where the liners have worn away and need replacing, and for the content I'm always expanding and trying out new ideas to elevate the quality of the content!
Social media is a hard graft, but I enjoy every minute of making the videos and the fact that millions of people all over the world enjoy them is so rewarding!"
Final thoughts
We're looking forward to seeing some of George Barnsley tools on Mark's bench in the near future and following the next chapter of his journey.
A huge thank you to Mark for taking the time to answer our questions.
You can check out Cobbler G's work on the links below
Instagram - cobbler.g
YouTube - Cobbler G
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