Haji Bakir and his descendants are yet to relinquish the tiny shop that was once considered the biggest cobbler’s in Sulaimani. They are keeping the profession of hand-crafted shoes alive in a bazaar where customers are for the most part looking for modern wares. 

Due to his old age, Bakir can no longer work like he used to. That is why his sole son, Aram, has taken up the mantle. They are certainly big shoes to fill. 

Back in the day, the shop was crowded with customers. Today, those visiting mostly go to listen to Bakir’s stories. 

Although making shoes in this way is a laborious task and largely obsolete, Aram is determined to rescue the craft. 

Among the quirky and vintage objects in Bakir’s shop is a framed newspaper clipping, in which the aged artisan says that throughout his 40 years of shoemaking, he has only once encountered an individual with a size 50 shoe.