‘’After World War II, the Greeks had no money for leather shoes. One day, back in the 1950s, an English choreographer came in my sandal workshop wanting to buy sandals for her dancing troupe. So, I made a pair of Spartan sandals for her – then believed to be the original Greek sandal design; in fact, she wanted six. So, I made a few more and hung them in the window. Some American tourists happened to see them and loved them. They sold out that same day.
I have put a lot of soul, love and passion into crafting sandals. Times changed and tastes evolved though, and so do professions. Young people nowadays don’t have the passion for manual labor. Hence, it is difficult to find a successor.
Besides, the economic crisis does not allow small enterprises and producers like me to flourish. There are no new artisans, something which is a big disadvantage, since a craft might always be useful.