Hibo treads back to shoemaking

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

MOUNT ZION, Clarendon:

FOR MOST people living in Mount Zion, located just about two miles before reaching Simon in Clarendon, farming is their main source of income. However, while he does engage in some planting of crops, for Seymour 'Hibo' Louden, shoemaking and repairs are his main source of income.

He told The Gleaner that the business had picked up somewhat over the past two years, forcing him to once again pay attention to the trade he had put down for some time.

Attributing this resurgence to the inferior quality of cheap imports, Hibo said clients were once again opting for locally produced shoes, which last much longer than their foreign counterparts.

It's a skill he has been practising for more than 20 years and actually picked up quite by chance after leaving the quiet, sleepy community for the bright lights of Kingston where a friend offered to teach him. Not interested at first, he eventually took up the friend's offer and thereafter began to enjoy himself and excel at it.

Slow beginning

Soon, however, the fast pace of city life began to lose its allure and Hibo started planning his return home. He began to buy tools, and after about two years, returned to Mount Zion.

Things were very slow in the beginning but eventually picked up to the point where he sought a loan from a financial institution and though it was less than he wanted, it allowed for the purchase of a stitching machine. This has helped to widen the range of shoe styles he can offer, increasing customer appeal.

Having finally paid off the first loan and being better equipped to meet the seasonal increased demands such as the beginning of the school term, Hibo is now looking at another loan to build up his inventory.

He told The Gleaner: "It is still a struggle, but the more you have in the system, you are better off because when it touch school time, you can see your way out."

As more parents become disenchanted with the cheap imports which, for the most part, are unable to stand up to the demands of active children, the shoemaker from Mount Zion is hopeful that his services will be in demand, and he will be prepared to meet this challenge.

Hibo is also hopeful some local stores will contract him to provide shoes of good quality, which he can deliver, at affordable prices. In addition to easing the demand for foreign exchange, it would lead to greater customer satisfaction.