Most of the projects they tackle are fairly straightforward: reglueing loose joints, recovering cushions, refinishing stained table tops and undoing the damage puppy teeth have wrought on all manner of furniture. “Between all of us,” said Irwin, “there’s not much we can’t do." Their business now employs 11 people, each of whom has certain specialties. When he opened his own shop in 1989, Irwin was joined by his wife, Min, who is a skilled upholsterer and has learned to reweave cane furniture. Irwin himself learned to refinish and repair furniture while working for his uncle, who owned an antiques business. It's not just about the intrinsic value of the item," he said. "Almost every customer who brings something in to us, they have a memory attached to it. As the owner of Irwin's Furniture Restoration in west Phoenix, he has spent decades fixing furniture and loves to hear the stories about those pieces. And they are very happy."ĭetails: 4390 N. Miller Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale. 48, Irwin's Furniture Restorationĭon Irwin also knows how much people want to preserve important possessions.
"Sometimes people bring in shoes or a bag and they ask: 'Can you fix this?' and I tell them it will cost more than the shoes are worth. Through it all, Umberto is aware that he is often repairing more than just scuffed leather. But he also cleans and mends backpacks, briefcases, purses, belts and even leather jackets and clothing. Yes, he replaces soles and heels, takes in boot shafts, builds up orthotics, fixes handles and wheels on roller bags and replaces zippers. Nor does he limit himself to shoes and luggage. "It is the same to me. I love all repairs." "Some customers pay $3, others pay $200," said Umberto. In his work room, inexpensive sandals from Target receive the same attention as vintage cowboy boots or Versace purses. His father owned a shoe factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Umberto grew up crafting leather.Īfter moving to Arizona, he worked in other shoe-repair shops before setting out on his own with Luxury Shoe and Luggage Repair.ĭespite the name, Umberto doesn't restrict himself to high-end brands. Umberto is, in a way, carrying on the family business. "People asked me: 'What is your trick?'" Umberto recalled. Was already very busy, sometimes working 14 hours or more to keep up with demand. When Herman Umberto opened his shoe-repair business in Scottsdale in 2013, he assumed it would take months to find customers. I just have to come up with creative solutions."ĭetails: 5820 W. Peoria Ave., Glendale, 60. "These are good clothes, so you don't want to stop wearing them. "That is how to save garments," she said. She hid a patch on the inside, then stitched the outside with matching thread for a sturdy and nearly invisible repair. He feared they were ruined, but for Dalee, it was a quick fix. One loyal patron recently brought in his favorite pair of jeans, which had been torn on a nail. "I get customers who bring me things and I have to stop and think about how I am going to do it," Dalee said. But she's always willing to take on a challenge.
in fashion design and went on to do alterations at Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York before moving to Glendale, where she opened her own shop, Alé Maria Fine Tailoring.Īlthough Dalee still offers couture work, most of her customers have more mundane problems: dragging hems, gaping waists, sagging straps, broken zippers, torn cuffs. She started by taking in repairs from neighbors, then earned a B.F.A. Dalee took the coat to a tailoring shop but the quoted price shocked her, so she borrowed a sewing machine and fixed it herself. One day, the zipper on her son's coat broke. "In Russia, everybody sews," she explained, "because there are no clothes to buy."īut after she emigrated to the U.S., she struggled to find a job. Maria Dalee learned to sew as a child in Russia, but she didn't plan to make a career of it.
So who can help you? Alé Maria Fine Tailoring You'll help the Arizona economy, because, unlike most chain stores, the majority of repair shops are locally owned, so profits stay close to home.Īnd you'll get to keep the things you already love. You'll help the environment by reducing landfill waste and reducing the need for materials and energy to build new items.
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