"Cretan Leather" (tsagaris) Cretan maker of boots - article published in The Athenian, 1992
by Ann Elder, published in The Athenian, December 1, 1992
"The tourist explosion based on charter flight holidaymaking in western Crete in the last decade is significantly prolonging the life of the traditional Cretan leather industry. Custom-made boots and shoes and handmade sandals, bags and belts from vaketta (treated leather), tanned with natural, environment-friendly products are now being carried or walked on throughout the world by customers who have patronized of Chania’s Carnaby Street – Stivanadika, or Leather Lane.
“European women love my Cleopatra sandals,” says extrovert Lefteris Pirpinakis, a master craftsman married to a Frenchwoman. Enjoying the stimulation of summer visitor traffic, he no longer has to burn the midnight oil as he did when an apprentice, sometimes working till dawn to finish orders on time. He produces stylish boots for women, working and riding boots, made-to-measure in a week. The dethroned (but still well-shod) king of Greece is among his customers.
Doyen of the remaining master craftsmen, Herakles Koubaritakis, over half a century in the trade, agrees tourism benefits the traditional Cretan craftsmen. “We make a lot from tourists,” he says." .....
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Note: This article has not been updated since it was originally written in 1992. As of today, December 2, 2022, there are several Cretan leather businesses active on the internet - link to Google search results on Cretan leather
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