October, 10th, 2014

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SPRING SUMMER SAN MAURO

In 1600 they were only four. Yet, between 1830 and 1900, in #SanMauro there were many people who chose to dedicate their lives to the profession of cobbler, repairing shoes on the doorstep or at home, and bartering their work with food and other things.

But only at the beginning of the new century the production of #shoes makes a great leap forward, going from the complete #footwear collection to selling into the country markets. In these years many people living in #SanMauroPascoli worked in this field, to that extent that they created a community with an own flag (1901).

During the First World War the cobblers that were working for the army obtained the qualification of Suppliers of the military commissariats with exemption form serving.

At the end of the 20s, to face the economic crisis, the cobblers reunite in a cooperative society that was patron by the Fascist Government. The renewal of the commission for the army footwear and above all for the hiking boots for members of the Italian alpine troops, grant a relative well-being to the country, with #cobblers that only work by hand, using “string made of eighteen threads full of pitch because, once the job was over, they had to be waterproof”.

During a visit in San Mauro, #Mussolini claims the necessity of a first mechanization and gives the city, in 1939, the considerable amount of 88.000 Lire: the regime press gives great consideration to this event, exalting the benevolence of Il Duce.

At the end of the Second World War, the community of cobblers tries to restore the old fascist cooperative association. Mr #Montanari from #Bologna carried on this idea with fervor: he collected what had been left of the equipment and handwork to build a small factory. The experiment gives modest results, but drives many families from San Mauro – The #Pollini , The #Mazzoti , the #Paganelli and the #Zoffoli – to reopen the activity insomuch as the commerce reaches the neighboring centers of #Cesena , #Forli and #Rimini where tonight, I met #Benedetta proudly posing in San Mauro’s !

No Loyalty. No Party !

#EMILIAROMAGNA #MODEDIPLOMATIQUE (at San Mauro, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)