A Cobbler Resurgence ...

Fun story. (pic of AE Strand)

Shoe repair shops bring new life and style to classic bags, heels - Los Angeles Times: "Serene Cicora craved a new black bag last fall, but couldn't come to terms with the $1,000-plus price tags on the styles she liked. So Cicora, an L.A. publicist, took her brown Mulberry Bayswater bag from several seasons ago and spent $120 to have it dyed black. The makeover gave her a key 'new' piece -- and moved her $1,800 bag back to the front of the closet. ... We've found four local cobblers who don't just fix shoes and bags, but also rework, reconstruct and update them. They can restyle a pump, turn a gladiator sandal into a T-bar and give a trendy clutch new life as a classic evening bag."

Related links:
In a Sole Revival, the Recession Gives Beleaguered Cobblers New Traction
Heeling Broken Soles - WSJ.com