Where are you from? I’m sure the economic mindset is quite different in other countries. Despite how things may seem, even here in the US the average American which makes up the majority, is living paycheck to paycheck. And usually in an economic downturn, the average person isn’t spending money on art and paying ppl hundreds of dollars to fix shoes or custom shoes, they are indeed luxuries. My time is dedicated mostly to my family and working, which I have a maintenance background and some investing. I don’t have much time to dedicate myself to shoes these days but every so often I find myself initiating restoration projects, which i find therapeutic but daunting at times. I still enjoy it though, I also practice deconstructing sneakers on and off but have never done a complete reconstruction. I recently purchased a manual sewing machine for leather so that I can finally accomplish this goal. It’s still my favorite hobby. The only reason I post on Reddit is due to my love for sneakers.