A shoemaker is a professional who makes, designs, and repairs shoes[shoes?:shoes paper pattern cutter]. Shoemaking, a traditional handicraft profession, has been largely replaced by industrial manufacturing. The shoe manufacturing industry is able to produce shoes at a much greater rate than individual shoemakers can, therefore shoemakers are now quite rare.
Modern shoemakers use many of the same materials as have always been used in the shoemaking profession, such as leather and wood. When making a shoe, a shoemaker will typically use an item called a last. By using a last, a shoemaker ensures that the shoe is properly sized. He can also ensure that both shoes in a pair are the same size and shape.
