In the earlier days, cobblers used shoe polish and shoe black to keep the shoes shining. Usually shoe black was obtained from crushing the leaves of the shoe black plant. The layer of shoe black also served as a protective cover for the shoes thereby increasing their shelf life. At present, shoe blacks can be purchased in ready-to-use bottles. However, it is not uncommon sight to find mobile cobblers, with their toolbox, applying shoe black on street corners to the shoes of people on the move.  |