Score a pair of bespoke shoes for a pittance!
Shoe shopping can be an expensive affair. And investing in good quality leather shoes, even more so. But what if we told you that you could flaunt a fabulous pair for rock-bottom prices at a neatly tucked away shop in Delhi’s Moti Bagh?
Sitting pretty in Basrurkar Market is Om Boot House, a small shop started by a family of cobblers that prides itself in making bespoke shoes — leather, suede, rexine etc. — and the range starts at ₹500. They specialise in the best of hand-crafted shoes for an international clientele — expats and employees at various embassies. You, too, can choose from a variety of designs displayed in the shop or show them a branded design that is on your wishlist, and they’d custom make it for you in just about a fortnight.
The shop had a humble start in 1955, when Mata Deen sat as a cobbler in the area. As word got out, his work got him many loyal customers. Soon, he was able to set shop. Later, in 1970, his brother-in-law Bhollu Ram took charge of the shop. This
THIS SHOP IN MOTI BAGH SPECIALISES IN CUSTOMMADE SHOES. YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE MATERIAL, COLOUR, STYLE AND DETAILING
was the time when Moti Bagh transformed into the residential space it is today.
“Teen peedhiyo se chal rahi hai yeh dukaan. Yahan pehle jo aate the, ab unke bacche aur potey bhi aate hain (We’ve been running the shop for three generations. Now, children and grandchildren of our clients also buy from us),” says Bhollu Ram, who still runs the shop, and also supervises craftsmen.
The advent of e-commerce websites did negatively impact their business, but the expat clientele has stayed consistent. Government officials and hotel employees are also regular buyers. Pakistan Embassy is a big client. “Word of mouth se kaam kafi badha hai hamara. Jo bhi official India aatey hain, hamare shoes zaroor pehnte hain (Word of mouth publicity has helped. Most Pakistani officials coming to India wear our shoes),” he adds.
What’s their hot-selling piece, we ask. Custom-made shoes for walk-in buyers. Bhollu Ram shares that people show photos of the design they want and his craftsmen replicate it for them. Here, one can choose everything — the material, colour, type of sole, style and detailing, and that’s what determines the final price. Cool, right?