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Turkish shoemaker produces shoes for 'giant feet’ for three decades

Turkish shoemaker who has been working for 41 years in Istanbul, produces shoes for 'giants' who have difficulty in finding shoes with big sizes. At first, Oncel Kalkan was making ordinary-sized shoes. His life has completely changed when American basketball player Pete Williams came to his shop in 1989 and said "Can you make shoes that will fit my feet?" he started producing shoes in big sizes. After this date, Kalkan's customers become unique as he started to make and sell large-numbered shoes up to size 57 (approximately U.S. size 24) in his tiny workshop located on the historical Istiklal Street of Istanbul's Beyoglu. Among the people that Kalkan makes giant shoes, Turkish basketball players Mehmet Okur, Mirsad Turkcan, Hidayet Turkoglu, İbrahim Kutluay, and many NBA players Zaza Pachulia, Marty Embry, Marcus Webb, Predrag Drobnjak, Bryant Dunston, and football player John Carew. The master craftsman also made and sent special shoes for Michael Jordan, who is considered the best basketball player of all time. (Footage by Sinan Sarıyar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Turkish shoemaker who has been working for 41 years in Istanbul, produces shoes for 'giants' who have difficulty in finding shoes with big sizes. At first, Oncel Kalkan was making ordinary-sized shoes. His life has completely changed when American basketball player Pete Williams came to his shop in 1989 and said "Can you make shoes that will fit my feet?" he started producing shoes in big sizes. After this date, Kalkan's customers become unique as he started to make and sell large-numbered shoes up to size 57 (approximately U.S. size 24) in his tiny workshop located on the historical Istiklal Street of Istanbul's Beyoglu. Among the people that Kalkan makes giant shoes, Turkish basketball players Mehmet Okur, Mirsad Turkcan, Hidayet Turkoglu, İbrahim Kutluay, and many NBA players Zaza Pachulia, Marty Embry, Marcus Webb, Predrag Drobnjak, Bryant Dunston, and football player John Carew. The master craftsman also made and sent special shoes for Michael Jordan, who is considered the best basketball player of all time. (Footage by Sinan Sarıyar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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DETAILS

Restrictions:
NO SALES IN TÃœRKÄ°YE.
Credit:
Anadolu/Footage
Editorial #:
1319822189
Collection:
Anadolu
Date created:
May 24, 2021
Upload date:
License type:
Rights-ready
Release info:
Not released.ÌýMore information
Clip length:
00:03:03:00
Location:
Istanbul, Turkey
Mastered to:
MPEG-4 8-bit H.264 HD 1920x1080 25p
Source:
Anadolu Video
Object name:
turkish_shoemaker_produces_shoes_for_giant_feet_for_three_de