My Shoemaker in Riehl Cologne

The good thing about moving within your city is that you can explore new neighborhoods. Recently, many of my walks have taken me to Riehl. The botanical garden and the zoo are Riehl's top destinations, of course, but it's also a good idea to walk along Stammheimer Straße and its side streets which are lined with beautiful old buildings. The center of the neighbourhood with a few basic shops and eateries is quite unpretentious, but that's exactly why I like it. Somehow Riehl seems to have been untouched by the hype so many other parts of the city have.

Every time I'm there, I'm delighted by the storefront of the local shoemaker's workshop at Stammheimer Str. 101a. Meanwhile, I've also had the courage to enter the store... and wow - what a beautiful vintage interior! It turned out that it is also a pleasure to have a chat with shoemaker Jürgen Fenske, who took over the business from his father and grandfather and continues his family's craft tradition.

The other day I brought a leather bag that belonged to my mother and I am very satisfied with the repair. To establish a counter-trend to fast fashion and throw-away culture, we should all be aware that fixing things is the sustainable way to go. With that in mind - support your local craftsman!