Our Craft

Duran cuts all buffalo leather soles and heels for our Sabah production; a job that requires precision and a deep understanding of leather to select only the best parts for a Sabah or Baba. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 9 years, beginning his career in the shoe industry at a neighbor’s workshop. He is famous among his coworkers for his desserts, which he regularly makes at the workshop. Afiyet olsun!

Mehmet is one of our talented hand lasters, the process of stretching leather over a form to dictate size & shape. It is rare in shoemaking, but we believe gives Sabah that special, handwrought feel. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 6 years; however, his career began over 30 years ago. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Cihangir, known as “Cihan”, is one of our talented side stitchers - the unique process that binds upper, insole and midsole and is iconic to Sabah. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 12 years, having been introduced to this line of work by a family friend. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his 4-year-old daughter.

Duran manages leather cutting for all Sabah production, with a focus on our wide range of upper leathers. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 9 years and brings a wealth of knowledge to our team with over 50 years of shoemaking experience, having started as a teenager under his uncle’s guidance. He enjoys backgammon and making time for travel outside of work.

Yılmaz is one of our side stitchers – the unique stitch that binds upper, insole and midsole together and is signature to Sabah. He has worked as a stitcher for nearly a decade, previously a shoe salesman in the bazaar. Before that he was a coppersmith specialized in handmade copper products. Outside of work, he enjoys DIY and repair projects around his house.

Mehmet manages leather cutting for all Sabah production, from soles to uppers, and also trains the quality control team. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 13 years. He began his career in his late teens, almost 50 years ago, working alongside his older brother at a small shoe factory. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring new cuisines and playing cards.

Sait handles all inner lining cutting for Sabah production – manipulating the soft leathers with a precise touch and keeps the high volume of cutting very organized. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 4 years. Before joining Sabah, he ran his own small workshop and prior to that he was professional soccer player. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Nihat is one of our hand lasters responsible for all Sabah production. Lasting is the process of stretching various upper leathers over a form that dictates size & fit. He’s worked with Sabah for 8 years, having begun his shoemaking career as a teenager with a small local shoe producer. Outside of work, he is a big soccer fan and enjoys watching and playing soccer.

Bülent is one of our talented hand lasters, the process of stretching leather over a form to dictate size & shape. It is rare in shoemaking, but we believe gives Sabah that special, handwrought feel. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 24 years. Outside of work, he enjoys off-road vehicles, and is an avid fisherman who regularly travels to the Mediterranean coast.

Salih is one of our talented hand lasters - the process of stretching leather over a form to dictate size & shape. It is rare in shoemaking, but we believe gives Sabah that special, handwrought feel. Salih has worked with Sabah for 5 years. Outside of shoemaking, he enjoys playing cards with friends, soccer, and horse racing.

Hamza is one of our talented side stitchers - the unique process that binds upper, insole and midsole and is iconic to Sabah. He has worked at the Sabah workshop for 3 years. He learned shoe stitching at an early age from his father, an expert side stitcher. Outside of work, he enjoys the martial arts and practices Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Taekwondo.

Mahmut runs the sewing room at Sabah, specifically the sewing, snipping, folding and gluing of all colorful & patterned uppers we’re known for. His work requires a steady hand and serious attention to detail. He joined our team 5 years ago, previously working at a local shoe factory. Outside of work, he runs a small farm where he grows pistachio trees and enjoys cooking.

Ricardo started working as an apprentice shoe maker at thirteen and has been working in the industry ever since. He’s opened his own factories, worked for other prestigious footwear manufacturers and ultimately has found himself settled in El Paso near his kids, working as a master stitcher at the Sabah workshop.

Frank has lived in El Paso all his life, learning the ins and outs of the shoe making industry while working for one of the most well known boot makers in the area. He’s an expert in leather and oversees the Sabah leather warehouse with great care and knowledge. He’s quiet, humble and key to the success of our Sabah El Paso workshop.

Native to El Paso, Brenda has worked for years as an expert stitcher for one of the most premier western boot makers in the area. Brenda is expanding her shoe making skills at the Sabah workshop, where she specifically stitches uppers and hand lasts Babas with great precision. We are delighted to have Brenda on our team.

Daniel is a quick and ambitious learner, always wearing a smile as he diligently performs his workshop tasks. His grandfather is French and he would like to learn the language someday. He’s also passionate about Corrido, a form of narrative song popular in Mexico and the southwest and hopes to form his own band one day.

Jesus comes from a family of shoe makers. Jesus’ father began teaching him the trade at age nineteen, just like his father taught him. He’s one of the strongest lasters we’ve ever met – a process that involves tightly wrapping the leathers around the plastic form to set the shape of the shoe. Born in El Paso, Jesus lives in Juarez with his wife and children.

Byron is developing his shoe making skills and forming a long term career in manufacturing. Two evenings a week he plays soccer with friends in the forward position, he’s fast on the field and in the workshop, quiet, yet precise in every task he’s given.

Since childhood, Roberto has been crafting western style boots. Without lifting his head he could make an exquisitely constructed boot from start-to-finish. As a second hand laster, he helps move the shoes through the most laborious part of the shoe making process. When not in the workshop, Roberto enjoys cooking, especially all of the Mexican classics!

Richard was born in the esteemed shoe making city of Leon Guanajuato, Mexico. Over twenty years ago, he moved his family to El Paso to start his own shoe making business. He’s a master leather tooler and one of the first to join our team in El Paso. As General Manager, Richard will be the expert navigator of the Sabah Workshop!