I needed to get a bag repaired, the zip had jammed. Not knowing where to go to get it repaired I, of course, turned to Google who recommended a visit to the cobblers in the shape of Carsten Itkin https://www.skomageri-itkin.dk .
It meant a trip to the big city of KBH ( KoBeeHogh) the locals slang for København
These street level basement entrances are a little tricky to find but are a popular location for a business such as a cobbler. It was quite a place as I hope you can see from the pictures with approximately 2 square cm of floor space reserved for customers to hand over their wares to be repaired.
My bag was handed over, the problem explained, a dodgy zip and a repair sought. Meanwhile, my attention was wavering from the job in hand to the pictures I could take in this Aladdin's den of a workplace. After a “Danglish” conversation it was agreed that I could take some pictures with my proper camera an iPhone ain’t much good in a dark basement. I would shoot some pictures when I came back to pick up my bag.
Talking more with Carsten it became clear that he was a step above your average cobbler with the authority, permission, and skill to work on such brands as; Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Chanel, Alaia, Lanvin, Jimmy Choo.
It would take a while before I returned even after a few phone calls ….. it would take months.
But eventually, the bag was fixed and I returned with a bag full of speedlites and a tripod. I had the chance to rummage through his very crowded store rooms and found some old leather cases that made some great backgrounds for a couple of pictures. At the end of the day I left with a repaired bag and what I think is a really nice set of pictures.
