Life, the city | Dan Desormes: the sneaker surgeon

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Our journalist travels around Greater Montreal to talk about people, events or places that mark urban life.




In his bag, sports shoes are carefully stored in vacuum-packed plastic. They look like they come straight from the manufacturer, but Dan Desormes has just given them a new life.

The man who calls himself The Kickz Surgeon cleans and refurbishes pairs of Nike, New Balance, Adidas, but also Dior, Burberry, Dolce & Gabanna and Converse for babies.

It’s a job alongside your studies, but it’s serious!

Humble beginnings

His vocation to save shoes was born during the pandemic. “I like to be active and I’m not capable of doing nothing. I just asked my friends to wash their shoes, he says. I put on my music and it helped me relax. »

Satisfied with the result, his relatives suggested that he go into business and he was registered with the Quebec Business Registry. Word of mouth quickly paid off. “The customers appreciated my work and the customer service,” he says with humility.

PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS

It’s hard to say if these espadrilles are new or… refurbished!

It must be said that Dan takes care of picking up the shoes to be cleaned until their delivery after they have been refurbished (if it is in Greater Montreal). Beforehand, customers must complete an online form to choose from three services: ordinary ($30), in-depth ($40) or surgical operation ($60). The ultimate service can provide repair of holes, zippers and clasps, and color restoration.

You can pay extra for sole whitening and express service in less than 48 hours. Dan can also be asked to remove bad odors and stains from a cap and restore its shape. Not bad huh ?

“In our economic and ecological context, it is better to clean your shoes than to buy a new pair,” he argues.

Especially when it comes to rare or collectible sneakers. Dan even had a customer from Quebec who sent him (by delivery!) his Nikes from the collection of the late Kobe Bryant (Lakers basketball superstar who died tragically in a helicopter accident). Another gave him a pair of Jordan 1s worth $2,000.

PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS

Dan Desormes uses a magic solution and several types of brushes depending on the stiffness of the fabric or leather.

The young man estimates cleaning around twenty pairs of espadrilles or shoes per week. “It’s the busy season when people want to go out in clean sneakers. »

Sometimes, depending on the condition of the shoes, it’s mission impossible. But in most cases, people underestimate how much they can give them a new life.

Sports and music

Dan Desormes, who has always lived in the Parc-Extension district, had just finished an end-of-term study blitz when we met in the studios of the Never Was Average collective located on rue Saint-Hubert, north of the Plaza.

He studies leisure (with a concentration in management) at Concordia University. “I would like to become a sports director at the secondary school level,” he says. Sport has always been part of my life and I wanted to give back to the youngest. »

PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS

“Shoes say a lot about someone,” emphasizes Dan Desormes.

Until last year, Dan was a member of the Stingers, Concordia’s football team. He occupied the position of DB (defensive back in French). At CEGEP, he defended the colors of the Nomades of Montmorency College.

Dan also played basketball and soccer seriously. Music is another important part of his journey, as he attended Le Plateau primary school and Pierre-Laporte secondary school. “I was in the music program and I played the tuba. It opened my horizons,” he says.

Last year, Dan also did capsules on Instagram with musicians, including DJ KidCrayola and rapper Jeekay.


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