From Garut to Jakarta: For 30 Years, Ujang Has Made a Living Repairing Shoes

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Under a worn umbrella that shades his wooden cart, Ujang meticulously works on a pair of shoes whose soles are starting to come apart.

His nimble fingers hold a small hammer, gently tapping thin nails to ensure they adhere perfectly to the bottom of the shoes.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of passing vehicles, the sound of the tapping is almost drowned out.

However, for Ujang (57), this sound is a rhythm he has heard for more than 30 years of his life in Jakarta.

The man from Garut, West Java, first moved to the capital when he was in his late teens.

He followed in the footsteps of relatives from his village who had already established themselves in the profession of shoe repair.

Since then, his life has revolved around the smell of glue, scraps of rubber, and worn-out shoe soles.

Over the past three decades, he has witnessed Jakarta’s transformation. Skyscrapers have emerged, shopping centres have grown in various corners of the city, and internationally branded shoes have become more readily available.

However, amidst this modernisation, Ujang has persevered with his cart. He admits that he has never truly left this profession.

“I’ve always been a shoe repairman,” he said.

He once experienced the days of carrying his equipment around, going in and out of alleys, offering his services from house to house.

Now, he is grateful to have a permanent location, albeit a simple one. According to him, income can never be guaranteed.

“Sometimes it’s busy, sometimes it’s quiet. That’s life, you can’t compare today with yesterday,” he said.

The prices Ujang charges are relatively affordable. For ordinary shoe soles, he charges around Rp 25,000. For school shoes, he adjusts the price accordingly.

“For school children, I usually adjust the price. They use pocket money from their parents,” said Ujang.

Meanwhile, for boots or shoes with thicker materials, the price can reach Rp 50,000, depending on the extent of the damage.

On a fairly busy road, a shoe repairman can be seen working on the sidewalk with a simple wooden cart topped with an umbrella.

The location of his stall is next to the wall of a resident’s house, making use of the narrow space between the road and the dividing wall.

The cart is painted blue and white with the words “Shoe Repair” which are starting to fade.

On top of the cart, various black rubber soles are stacked, some tied with rope to prevent them from falling.

Several examples of repaired shoes are also displayed as a sign of the services offered.