Shoe repair shop goes viral for its sneaker fixes – it’s where celebrities send their US$6,000 Dior and Gucci shoes to get patched up

Shoe Lab started out cleaning Adidas Gazelles. Now it fixes US$6,000 Dior sneakers and US$1,000 Christian Louboutin heels and its videos of the repairs go viral

Fixing tattered Gucci tennis shoes, worn-out Balenciaga logos or suede a washing machine messed up is all in a day’s work, and UK celebrities are full of praise

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Dior sneakers being repaired at Shoe Lab, a UK-wide service that fixes up designer shoes and is earning the praise of British celebrities, sports stars and influencers. Photo: Instagram

Published: 5:15pm, 14 Aug 2022

A small shoe repair shop in the east of England has become a favourite among British celebrities and sports stars who need their fancy sneakers, heels and flats repaired.

Shoe Lab, a Boston, Lincolnshire-based shop, started in January 2020 as a local cobbler that cleaned Adidas Gazelles for £10 (US$12). Now it is a UK-wide service that fixes up hundreds of pairs of Gucci, Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton shoes every week.

Shoe Lab’s success comes from its addictively satisfying videos depicting the process of repairing US$6,000 Dior sneakers and US$1,000 Christian Louboutin heels for its 50,000 Instagram followers.

Almost every day, the shop revives worn-out Balenciaga logos and tattered Gucci tennis sneakers, garnering praise from celebrities like singer Kerry Katona, Love Island star Joe Garratt, and England cricket captain Ben Stokes, as well as style and fitness influencers with millions of followers.

The work is highly skilled and laborious. Head of painting Andreia Pacheco, who also makes Shoe Lab’s Instagram videos, says she can spend 20 minutes fixing a single Alexander McQueen logo.

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