The Devil Wears Joseph Debach

In looking over my new categories, and going through my posts to label them, I realized that there was a glaring void. Shopping. In my nearly 3 months of blogging, I haven't written one post about anything having to do with shopping here in the capital. I guess that's kind of shameful, but here's the thing: I don't like shopping. Now, don't get me wrong--it's not that I don't like buying things. In fact, I was definitely one of the early adopters of shopping online. I just have never particularly enjoyed that ritual of going into stores, trying stuff on. I have flashbacks of me as a kid during the yearly back to school blitz, hiding in the racks of Sears trying to avoid corduroy pants, velour shirts, and velcro shoes. But, I digress. The point is, I'm going to make more of an effort for voi. But in order for it to end up here, it's really gotta catch my eye.

That's why, to inaugurate my new category, I would like to introduce you to Joseph Debach. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of him, because I found his store in the evening after it was closed, and chances are he doesn't even work there but has his own secret workshop somewhere else, but you can see him on his website. Which, incidentally, has a little wooden puppet and sound effects that made me realize just how easily I am amused.

So, that shoe photo up there? It was in his window and stopped me dead in my tracks. Now, I took my photo in the name of blogging, but let me tell you people that his window had no fewer than six women gaping at it, one of whom was also taking photos. I had to kind of elbow my way up to get the shots. This guy's stuff is really something.

Just one question, however: who wears these? Wait, don't answer that. Maybe the better question to ask is: where do you buy the shoelaces?

Well, what can I say--this tiny shop is definitely worth its weight in pitchforks. Whatever that means. And just in case you have no idea where Mr. Debach got his inspiration for that shoe, in case perhaps you've been spending some extra time under a rock lately, or you just aren't as much of a victim of advertising as I am, click here.

Joseph Debach
Vicolo del Cinque 19 (Trastevere)
Tel./Fax: +39 06 5562756