Cordwainers

Cordwainers are skilled artisans who craft footwear, traditionally working specifically with fine leather for shoes and boots. Historically, the term refers to those involved in high-quality shoe-making, often requiring specialized training. Originally, the word comes from the Spanish “cordonavia,” related to leather or cordovan, emphasizing their expertise with premium materials. Cordwainers played an important role in the shoemaking industry, sometimes forming guilds to maintain standards. Today, the term is less common but still used in traditional shoe-making contexts and in certain legal or historic references to skilled leather shoe artisans.