Shoe Repair

Published Feb 4, 2007

(Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis)

REMODEL
Superior Leather Restorers
(141 Lexington Ave., nr. 29th St.; 212-889-7211)
Superior handles serious shoe challenges. It’ll expand tight boots with handmade leather inlays (from $150), insert discreet zippers for a snugger fit (from $75), and refinish light-colored leather that seems irretrievably stained (from $125).

RECREATE
The Empire
(991 Lexington Ave., nr. 72nd St.; 212-744-1257)
If your favorite loafer or heel has been discontinued, the Empire will import any materials needed to construct a perfect clone (from $200). Additional perk: free pickup and delivery.

PROTECT
Arty’s Shoe Repair
(243 Eighth Ave., nr. 22nd St.; 212-255-1451)
Shoes in New York need rubber soles for protection and endurance, but the typical thick black option ruins the look. Arty’s uses the thinnest possible German soles, and they’ll even tint them to complement the design (bright red for Christian Louboutin, for example). The service costs $25.