Being on a rather more frugal than I'd like student budget, I know the importance of taking good…read morecare of my shoes. As much as I'd like to buy a new pair whenever I please, sadly it just isn't an option. As a result, I regularly get my shoes cleaned and re-soled, all in the aim of prolonging the wear I can get out of them. Frugal indeed. No matter where I'm living in Melbourne, there's no one else that I trust to look after my shoes other than the guys at Ari's. They offer: Leather soles Topy soles Rubber heels Stiletto tips Toe pieces Recovering of heel blocks Colouring and dyeing Lowering or stacking heels Recovering Size adjustment and stretching Insoles Buckles Tips Straps Zipper installation and replacement Orthopedic correction Wide range of shoe care products

Aris shoes offers and delivers the best quality service of shoe repairs He is innovative,…read morelistens to your needs and very well priced. I have been using Aris shoes for over 15 years and I highly recommend him.

Fantastic service at Carlisle St, Balaclava…read more I had a briefcase with a locking mechanism that had broke. Fixed in an hour. These guys are the best. I've had keys cut many times before with them but to know they can fix all kinds of things really well and efficiently is very reassuring.

Have had a couple of things repaired and keys cut here over the years, and have always been happy…read morewith the work and service. Around four weeks ago, I brought in my five year old Daniel Wellington watch to have the glass replaced, due to some fine scratches that had developed over several years of use. After paying $80 for the repair, I picked up the watch a couple of weeks ago. Three days later, when taking it off it fell about 20cm onto my bedside table and smashed instantly. This was a very minor impact that the original glass (and my other watch) have endured many times without issue. This suggested to me that the replacement glass was not strong enough and/or the repair made it more susceptible to breaking. I brought the watch back to the store last week and politely explained that I was unhappy with the quality of the repair and that I didn't believe such a minor impact should cause the glass to smash. Instead of listening to my concerns and trying to find a solution, the owner was extremely rude to me. He kept saying "it wasn't like that when you picked it up, was it?", even though I never suggested that it was returned to me broken. He essentially told me to pay for another repair or go away, and basically started serving another customer before we'd even finished speaking. Everyone (and assumably the owner) knows that watch glass (especially from a brand like Daniel Wellington) is designed to be strong enough to withstand day to day knocks and drops. If it wasn't, then people's watches would be smashing all the time! If replacement glass is lower quality and more likely to crack than the original, then I should have been warned of that beforehand. I tried resolving this a second time by writing an email to the owner, but was just sent a generic reply again refusing to repair the watch for free or offer me a refund. A complaint has now been submitted to Consumer Affairs Victoria. Judging by other negative reviews about the owner's rudeness and attitude, I'm clearly not alone. What a way to lose customers! Will be going somewhere else now.

Hamid Zapatero is a breathtakingly amazing cobbler and person. I have significant problems with one…read moreof my feet and usually shoemakers give me advise and instruct me of how I should deal with the difficulties I have. It is confronting and painful as I have lived with my foot since birth and know pretty much what I need and why. Hamid is so very different, he listens, he is kind and gentle in his advice. For the first time I felt I did not have to fight to get my point across. He undertook to do a number of jobs including creating new shoes based on my old ones and adjusting them to even better fit. This was not an easy task and he achieved it well (he definitely will be making more shoes for me in the future). Hamid also repaired my old belts and made them longer, again very skillfully so it is practically not detectable. Hamid has skills, patience and clearly committment to his profession. I could not recommend him highly enough. I can only hope that he stays in Melbourne for ever as he is the best cobbler I have ever come across. In addition a visit to his workshop is a visual delight, it is a beautiful place which Hamid built with his own hands. Drop in even if you only need a key made or new shoe laces, you will love the place and you will like its owner and sooner or later you will need to save your favorite shoes or handbag or belt. Hamid takes pride in his work and it shows in results.

I have been a loyal customer at this shoe repair for two years, including many visits with my…read moreregistered assistance dog. Today I was denied service solely because of my assistance animal, despite my assistance dog wearing her official vest and me showing the owner her formal registration ID card. When I informed the owner that denying me service based on my disability and assistance dog violates the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act, he responded by stating it is his shop and he decides who is allowed inside, and that he doesn't recognise assistance animals without his personal consent. This is unlawful under Australian law. Assistance dogs have the right to accompany people with disabilities in public places. Businesses cannot refuse service based on disability or an assistance animal. I am reporting this matter to the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

I have a leather fetish to rival that of a dominatrix, however my interest only extends to shoes…read moreand man bags. Emils has been on Chapel for as long as I can remember, selling vintage boots before it became over priced. A good shoe re-soleing will set you back anywhere between $20-$40 depending upon the shoe and level of damage (you can usually find smaller cheaper places in the burbs) however this store is really about their leather selection. There is an excellent selection extending to cowboy boots, brogues, Doc's, RM's, Ian Harold cubans, mens/women's shoulder bags/handbags and an assortment of vintage clothing pieces make this a desirable destination for fancy footwear. Prices are on average lower than that of say 'Shappere' but will still set you back around $40-$150 for a good pair of kicks. This is one of the stores that cements Windsor as the original stalwarts of vintage fashion.

Old-fashioned traditional shoe repairs (in the very best meaning of those words) and nice people…read moretoo. A long standing Elsternwick business founded in 1932 and spanning several generations so no doubt that they know what they're doing by now ......

I was almost ready to give up on my comfy ballerina flats that I bought in Spain because the heel…read morehas finally given way. I was sad, nostalgic even because these shoes have been everywhere with me. Then I found Leon's Shoe Repair and the world looked peachy again! Not only was I able to repair my red ballerinas but it only cost me $20. I was ecstatic because I had taken it to another shoe store before and they quoted me $80! Ridiculous! So if you're in the Malvern area and you've got boots/shoes that need some TLC, take them to Leon's.

I had my boots re-heeled at Acland Shoe Repairs and, upon getting them home, realised that one of…read morethe heels was off-centre. I returned and informed the repairer about the problem and was immediately yelled at, with the man essentially accusing me of forgetting how to stand straight since I last wore the boots. Despite remaining calm and asking him not to raise his voice so that we could have an adult discussion about it, he continued to shout and tell me he had done a perfect job and that I was the problem. Needless to say, I won't be returning. I would recommend others go elsewhere so as to avoid receiving treatment like I did.