necmi usta and his harem

yesterday was a rainy day...and cold. but i had decided to go to necmi usta with dirk so nothing could change my plans. i didn't know the exact street in tarlabasi but i knew the angle the street was at from the tango class window...dirk had googled his telephone number just in case.

we entered the street and almost immediately without even asking there were men pointing us in the direction of "dancing shoes". it was in a dilapitated building, narrow and steep stairs, a shot out of a horror flick perhaps...necmi usta was on the top most floor. it was relatively empty, with only one other woman waiting. i happened to comment on it and necmi quickly said there might be a lot of women coming very very soon. a few minutes later the shop was full...of women excited about shoes.



my mom got her shoes made in pakistan. she would choose the leather, mostly snake skin, the model and the heel, a few weeks later it would be ready. necmi's shoes takes 2 months. he makes 200 shoes a week. he has 4 guys working in his shop, god knows until what hour. there were shoes against the wall, shoes in boxes, shoes on the desk, materials for shoes, heels hanging out on the floor, pictures of tango dancers, film posters...it was a sensory experience and there was glue in the air.

it took me a while to choose and when i did it took him a while to come to me and take the order. he tested the tightness of the shoe around my toes, we discussed the heel and its colour. serious business.

when he was jotting down notes for my order i realised i had ordered the same type of shoes my mother used to have made decades ago- patent leather and snake skin..except this one was going to have a glittery silver heel.