This week on the Shoecast we’re bringing back Rory Fortune, founder of Los Angeles-based repair and customization shop Goods & Services, which continues to be one of the most interesting footwear operations out there.

We had Rory on back in 2024, and with the Goods & Services business and product range expanding like crazy, it seemed high time to get a closer look at exactly how Rory and team convert sneakers to a resoleable welted construction—yes the video version of this episode is up on Youtube—and catch up on plenty more.

Goods and Services LA—Rory Fortune—Red Wing Postman Collab

Goods and Services LA—Rory Fortune—Red Wing Postman Collab

How is the role of the modern footwear designer misunderstood? What’s going on in a rapidly shifting sneaker culture? How’d a collaboration with Red Wing lead to rethinking the Postman shoe? When does a workshop founded on customization need to pull back on it—and does that hinder creativity? How do you find and train the people needed to grow that workshop? And why won’t Rory customize your Birkenstocks, right now?

Give Rory a listen or watch below

And check out the extensive Shoecast archives right here

Or watch the episodes—and plenty of other wonderful stuff—that we’ve also put on our YouTube channel

Stitchdown Premium subscribers get access to bonus Shoecast episodes, our private (and excellent) Discord server, and entry to the Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome.

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