Jim McCormack has spent five decades as an outworker for various shoe companies across England. Listen to him discuss life as an outworker and the system it works within; also learn more about the evolution of bespoke shoe culture since 1950, among many other topics.
Jim McCormack has become one of the foremost experts on England’s bespoke shoe business and its outworker system since working there in the 70’s as an outworker doing bottom making for various firms. England boasts one of the longest outworker systems globally; we often discuss this freelance system and its pros and cons when talking with him.
Jim McCormack discusses his own journey into shoemaking, hear stories from John Lobb from back in the 70’s, discuss various stages in UK bespoke shoemaking scene over 50 years and much more.
Listen to Shoeperk Podcast below or in your preferred podcast player; all episodes can be found here. For an extra recommendation, listen to Jean-Michel Casalonga of Berluti discuss running a large bespoke workshop as an alternative system of freelance work.