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The ‘Teen Cobbler’ Will Give Your Tired, Old Sneakers Sole Again
| By Robin Milling
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![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Want to bring back life to your old kicks and be stylish at the same time? There’s a guy from Chicago who can do just that. His name is Joshua Marin — known as the “Teen Cobbler” — and he inherited the gift from his father and grandfather. Marin decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and kick it up a notch, transforming tired sneakers into brand new ones. The coolest thing is he’s only 20, but he’s been mastering the trade since he was a teen.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
No need to trash last year’s Air Jordans for the newer model. Marin will restore them to their fresh out-of-the-box look at his store, Fix Your Kicks.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
“When I tell people I fix shoes, they kind of laugh. I sometimes feel offended. I try to lighten it up. I have a phrase called, ‘Turn your beaters into heaters,’ because a lot of people beat up their shoes. I can make them look like fresh kicks. I can make them look brand new. People are like, ‘Wow, you can actually do this!’ Well, yeah, I can bring your shoes back to life. I’m Fix Your Kicks. That’s what I do. I fix kicks,” Marin told Great Big Story.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Born and raised on the north side of Chicago, Marin would spend time at his father’s cobbler shop and watch him restore damaged shoes.
“He taught me everything I know,” Marin said. “I was like, ‘You know what? I want to take this to another level.’ I’m gonna bring my sneaker culture to this and I’m gonna go hard, you know? I’m gonna do this for a living.”
When he first started out, Marin would check out thrift stores in search of battered sneakers and bring them back looking fresh.
“One time I found a pair of Jordan 12s and I bought them for like $21. I’d clean ’em up, put new laces on them, and sold them for around $180,” Marin said.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
With a profit like that, Marin decided to set up shop. Now he gets special requests to custom match the sneakers with their original color and design.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
“A lot of teenagers will be like, ‘I want this color but I can’t find it anywhere. Could you please provide this for me?’ Sure, I can paint them up and make them look how you want it,” he said.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Becoming successful has been all about the hustle for Marin. He wants to represent his neighborhood, and it shows him the love right back.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
“It’s always a good feeling to make people smile and make people pleased with my work. I help them out and they help me out. It makes me feel like I belong here. I’m purposeful and this is what I’m meant for,” Marin said.
![Chicago’s Teen Cobbler sneakers](https://itsthevibe.com/wp-content/themes/genesiscoreapp/Assets/images/1x1.trans.gif)
WATCH Marin do his thing, turning retired retro Air Jordan 12s and 23s into flying condition.
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