The shoemaker of Cheras

He stitched for his fingers were bewitched, sewing a dream into every seam . . .

Shoemaker Chook Wah Sun has been making shoes for the past 60 years. Mention San Lee Shoes and you’re bound to find a community of happy feet.

Shoemaker Chook Wah Sun

He may not be Jimmy Choo but his designs are simple and those who have worn his shoes swear by their comfort and durability.

Customers stream into Chook’s shop all day long and the affable veteran shoemaker deftly measures their feet using a measuring tape.

He chats with them, putting them at ease while gently getting to know their feet. It’s this personalised service that has won him a steady clientele.

“It’s not an easy job because it’s time consuming to make shoes from scratch but I’m used to it. Not only do we make the shoes, customers have to come back for a fitting and if the fit is not right, we have to redo the shoe. But when the shoe fits, it gives me great satisfaction,” says the director of San Lee Shoes.

The Process

Chook begins by measuring his customer’s feet and drawing a rough outline of them on a piece of paper. Then he measures the height of the ankle and Achilles’ tendon from the sole of the foot, noticing any irregularities. Customers choose their designs and colours before he starts the creating process.

Shoemaker Chook Wah Sun and wife Phoon Po Chun proudly showing off the labour of their love.

Malaysians generally have wider feet around the instep area and more spread-out toes due to our hot, humid climate. And because we seldom wear socks, our feet tend to grow more freely.

In the West, most people wear socks all the time so there’s no chance for the toes to expand,” observes Chook, who also makes shoes for himself.

Misconception that all branded shoes are comfortable. This is not true. If you’re buying shoes, the criteria should be to understand your feet first.

Is your feet slim, narrow or wide? One shouldn’t wear shoes for the sake of vanity. Commercial shoes are meant for the mass market and only take the length into consideration, not the width.

He explains, “Most people have disproportionate feet so I was taught how to measure them and make the shoes fit accordingly.

“For example, if someone has a high arch, I put padding underneath to give the feet better support. Handicapped people and those with mutilated feet as a result of binding also require extra attention.”

Chook tracing out a customer’s foot for a shoe design.

The popularity of San Lee Shoes has spread through word of mouth as Chook doesn’t believe in advertising. In fact, doctors regularly call him to help out in their clinics but Chook is devoted to manning his sole outlet in Taman Midah, Cheras.

Happy customers

Insurance agent Angie Ng swears by Chook Wah Sun’s shoes. Since she discovered his shop in 1999, she has never bought shoes anywhere else.

“I used to wear Hush Puppies but after I discovered San Lee Shoes, I found them to be lasting and comfortable.

“The price is about the same as Hush Puppies so I’d rather invest in something that fits snugly around my feet. My toes are wide so standard shoes won’t fit well,” says the 50-something lady.

Ng is on her feet the whole day and finds it a relief that at the end of the day, her feet don’t hurt. Initially, she used the shoes for Latin dance classes but decided to make ordinary pairs for everyday use.

“I love it so much that all my shoes are now San Lee. Even my husband gets his shoes from there and I’ve recommended it to countless people,” she enthuses.

Dance instructor cum finance executive Wong Khai Hoong, 35, feels strongly about Chook’s shoes as well. He thinks they’re reasonably priced, durable and extremely comfortable. He owns three pairs: two dance shoes and a regular pair.

He says, “Chook is such a warm person and his shoes are great. The design is a tad old-fashioned and can be improved on but otherwise, I have no complaints. When the soles wear off, I take them back to have them resoled.”

What Chook does is truly a labour of love. He could possibly be the last few remaining master shoemakers in Malaysia

San Lee Shoes
11, Jalan Midah 5
Taman Midah
Jalan Cheras
Selangor
Tel: (03) 9130 3236