Services 'Pašan', Salih Pašanbegović, shoemaker
For 60 years with interruptions, since the age of 15, Salih Pašanbegović aka Pašan has been engaged in the shoemaking trade. Since he retired in 2013, after working in a local iron factory, he has been fully devoted to this craft. Since 2000, his son has joined his work, and two generations of Pašanbegović are working to preserve this endangered craft. There are numerous tools, aids and machines in the workshop that Pašan bought over the past decade. There is also the 'Singerica' (Singer sewing machine) that is especially dear to him, and it's even older than him, and he hopes that it will be many more Pašan to experience her work.
- Name of Craft in the local language
- Obućar / pašmagdžija, kundurdžija, Uslužna djelatnost 'Pašan'
- Type of Craft
- Making and repairing different types of footwear, shoemakers
- Knowledge Holder
- Salih Pašanbegović
- Location, Website
- Prve Zeničke brigade br. 3a, 72000 Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina Link to website
- Contact
- +387 61 793515
- Type of Business
- Family business in a local workshop
- Year of Establishment
- 1950/2013
- Successors
- Yes, son Admir Pašanbegović
- Workshop and sales space
- 65 m²
- Materials
- Different types of leather, rubber, glue, and threads
- Technology / Tools / Machines
- Sewing machines, presses, clamps, needles, chisels, scissors, pliers, and awls
- Techniques / Processes
- Drawing and designing, making individual parts (face and sole), assembling the face of the shoe and sole on a wooden mold, sewing, gluing, cleaning, and polishing
- Members / Employees
- 2; Salih Pašanbegović and son
- Apprentices
- The son was an apprentice to his father, Pašan, the heir and successor of the family shoemaking craft.
- Education of the Craftsperson
- The second-generation craftsman, master Pašan, has been engaged in this craft for over 60 years, and his son has been working with his father since 2000.
- Best-selling product
- Designer shoes, sports shoes (sneakers) that they make themselves according to their own designs, dance sandals, slippers, ballet flats (shoes), orthopedic shoes, and shoe accessories
- Average time of production
- Continuous all-day process and service activity for customers from 09:00 to 17:00 every working day
- Average price per item
- €12,50 – €150
Services ‘Pašan’, Salih Pašanbegović, shoemaker / pašmagdžija, kundurdžija
For 60 years with interruptions, since the age of 15, Salih Pašanbegović aka Pašan has been engaged in the shoemaking trade. Since he retired in 2013, after working in a local iron factory, he has been fully devoted to this craft. Since 2000, his son has joined his work, and two generations of Pašanbegović are working to preserve this endangered craft. There are numerous tools, aids and machines in the workshop that Pašan bought over the past decade. There is also the ‘Singerica’ (Singer sewing machine) that is especially dear to him, and it’s even older than him, and he hopes that it will be many more Pašan to experience her work.
‘When I make shoes, I play, because it relaxes me and gives me satisfaction. Every line I draw will be exactly like that on the final design of the shoe and the product I make’, says master Pašan, starting his story. Since 2000, his son has been working with him. He is very skilled in making sports shoes (sneakers), so this craft has a chance to survive and stay with him.
The workshop where they work is equipped with many hand tools, aids, and machines, and most of all, with the desire and will to please the clients and repair or make their shoes in the best way possible. Every corner of the workspace, apart from containing the necessary tools in the form of pliers, hammers, awls, needles, and sewing machines, also carries years of accumulated stories and revived and restored footwear. The dearest and most interesting item in the workshop area is an old sewing machine of the Singer brand, popularly called Singerica—the popular saying says ‘Sews like a Singerica’—without fail.
Everything starts with the wishes and needs of the client. Sometimes these are just requests to repair and extend the life of shoes, boots, and sneakers. Sometimes clients want dance sandals, dance shoes, or footwear that they cannot get in Bosnia and Herzegovina but have to import, or that footwear costs a lot, so it is cheaper to make it at a shoemaker. The process begins with the creation of blueprints and designs for footwear in accordance with the client’s wishes and needs. After that, the pieces of leather that will form the face (upper part) of the footwear are carefully selected. These pieces of leather are cut according to the established model and needs. If necessary, holes are cut, and metal rings for laces are placed. After that, all parts of the face of the shoe are sewn. For the soles, thick leather is cut to the shape and size of the client’s feet, as are layers for the heels. Today, rubber is also used a lot. Soles and upper parts are joined on a special wooden mold. The last stage in making shoes is their ironing and cleaning.
Best-selling products are designer shoes, sports shoes (sneakers) that they make themselves according to their own designs, dance sandals, slippers, ballet flats (shoes), orthopedic shoes, and shoe accessories.
