Manfred’s Shoe Lounge

Manfred’s Shoe Lounge has been an institution for high-quality shoe repairs on Errol Street for over twenty years.

In 2021, Manfred made the decision to bow out of the business and hand the reins to his long-time employee, Mattia Rossi.

“My dad and my grandfather were cobblers and leather workers back in Italy, and so I’ve been surrounded by this industry all my life,” smiles Mattia. “I came to Melbourne in 2016 in search of adventure, not having any particular plans to settle down. Now owning Manfred’s Shoe Lounge is my opportunity to continue this craft in my new country.”

While Mattia is a third-generation cobbler, he didn’t follow his father and grandfather into the family business at first.

“I was studying mechanical engineering, but I didn't want to sit in front of a computer every day of my life.

“I watched my father and his free life being a leather worker, an artisanal trade. If he wakes up in the morning and wants to make a bag, he will make a bag. If he wants to make a jacket out of leather, he makes a jacket.

“I realised that the skills my father and grandfather taught me - that being a creator and artist - were my passions too. The fact that you can make, repair and create things out of leather is what I love to do.”

Mattia prides himself on the quality of workmanship that he and his team bring to shoe repairs in a climate that is moving away from fast fashion. What makes them different from the majority of other shoe repairers is the years of training and experience and the detailed workmanship that they bring to their work.

As well as repairing shoes, you will also find key cutting services and leather products in the store.

In a plush vintage-inspired retail store adjoining the workroom, Mattia stocks an enviable collection of high-quality handmade men’s shoes.

“We specialised in welted shoes, which refers to how the shoe is assembled. The process means that shoes are never going to split and allows them to be resoled repeatedly. They’re a different quality compared to shoes with moulded soles that are mass-produced by automated machinery.”

Mattia stocks welted shoes from niche English shoemakers such as Barker, Jeffery-West, Loake, as well as Australian bootmaker Harold. Customers from all around Australia visit the shop, especially for these relatively hard-to-find brands.

Mattia aims to continue to grow his business, continuing to provide high-quality leather repair services to the North Melbourne community and beyond and perhaps branching out into small-scale leather manufacturing.

“I live and work locally, and I like that North Melbourne is so close to the CBD but still feels like a country town. It's quieter, the pace is slower, and people are not in a hurry.

“There’s been a cobbler on Errol Street for decades, and I am here to uphold that legacy, bringing generations of experience to my craft.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio