What happens when a lifelong sneaker lover refuses to throw away his favourite shoes — and ends up building a full sneaker restoration business instead?
In this episode, we meet SneakerPharm’s founder, the craftsman bringing dead, battered, sun-bleached trainers back to life using skill, chemistry, and a whole lot of patience. From reverse-engineering damaged materials to perfecting the art of whitening, reglueing, repainting, and rebuilding — this is a deep dive into the world of sneaker rescue and the culture around it.
We talk about:
🧪 How he learned restoration through trial, error, and obsession
👟 Why certain sneakers are worth saving — even if they look beyond repair
🔥 The business of sneaker cleaning, detailing, and reviving rare pairs
✨ The surprising emotional stories behind the shoes people send in
📦 What it’s really like turning your passion into a full-time craft
If you love sneakers, craftsmanship, or just great stories from people who really care about what they make, you’ll enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at a fascinating and fast-growing world.
You can find SneakerPharm on the web at sneakerpharm.com and on Instagram as @sneakerpharm
Also available on YouTube:
Garmology is by Nick Johannessen. There is no advertising or sponsorship, but you are welcome to support the podcast via my Patreon at patreon.com/garmology or you can buymeacoffee.com/garmology
Nick Johannessen is also the editor of the WellDressedDad blog and WellDressedDad on Instagram. You can email Nick as Garmology (at) WellDressedDad.com.
Garmology theme music by Fabian Stordalen.
Great service and excellent price.
Even repaired a pair of Gucci driving loafers for me – bang-on!
Definitely a shoe-in (!!!) for all my future refurbs and repairs.