DIY shoe sewing in a developed economy: Behind the motivation to sew shoes at home

Abstract

This study seeks to identify and understand the motivation of people who sew shoes for themselves or their family members at home. Qualitative analysis of in-depth data from online semi-structured interviews with thirteen respondents was conducted to understand the reasons why they sew shoes at home. The study results were twofold: They confirmed earlier studies investigating the factors that lead people to sew clothes at home. It was confirmed that economics, creativity, originality, and individual needs lead to the decision to sew shoes at home. Also, the overarching reason for the home shoe sewing was the importance of personal fulfilment, achieved through the main emergent themes of entertainment, empowerment, insufficient market, and financial reasons. This study was limited to citizens of the Czech Republic recruited from Facebook pages dedicated to home shoemaking. The study’s significance lies in determining the factors that led Czech consumers to DIY shoe sewing.