From the back seat of a car to rebuilding life with dignity—one shine at a time.
My name is Ali Aydin. I was born in Amsterdam —raised between Dutch structure and Turkish tradition—and shaped by the challenges of life from a young age. Over the years, I launched twelve different businesses—each with hope, effort, and ambition. But one after another, they collapsed. With each failure came deeper debt, broken trust, and heavier burdens.
In 2014, everything fell apart. I lost my home and had no safety net. I lived in my car for years, I cycled long hours with Uber Eats to make ends meet. But even then, I never gave up.
By 2019, with the help of the municipality of Amsterdam, I found housing again. It was a turning point. Yet I was still deep in debt, with a restless soul and a longing to rebuild with purpose. Then came the pandemic—a moment of silence and reflection. I asked myself: What can I create with my own hands that carries meaning, dignity, and care?
That’s when shoeshining became more than a memory—it became a calling. A craft with soul.
I traveled across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany to learn from cobblers and repair experts. Then I went further—back to my roots—to Turkey, where I trained under a shoeshiner with over 55 years of experience. There, I learned not only the technique, but the heart of craftsmanship: respect, precision, and the value of giving something a second life.
Back in Amsterdam, I built my own shoeshine boxes and received official permission from the city to begin. With every shine, I wasn’t just polishing shoes—I was restoring pride. I listened to stories. I shared my own. And slowly, step by step, I rebuilt.
Today, I am proud to work as a community-based social worker , I support people who feel left behind—because I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to fall, and what it takes to rise again.
That’s why I created Shoeshiner.com—a place where care, tradition, and sustainability come together. Where shoeshining is more than surface-level—it’s a way to show respect, to give value back, and to remind people that nothing is ever truly lost.
I believe in circular thinking: reuse, repair, revive. My dream is to open Shoeshiner Academies across the world, where people can learn a timeless skill, gain confidence, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
This isn’t just about shoes.
It’s about giving everything—and everyone—a second chance.
If you believe that every person and every object deserves a second chance…
If you believe that restoration—of shoes, of people, of dignity—is a meaningful act…
Then you are already part of this journey.
Together, we don’t just polish shoes—we bring value back to what others have given up on.
Shoeshiner.com – Born in Amsterdam. Rebuilt with purpose. Ready for the world.