My name is Ben, but people call me Blunt Shank or Benji Blunt…. confused?
Born and raised in London, I enjoyed all that the 70s and 80s had to offer. I was heavily involved with Hip Hop culture from my early years and later, the UK underground dance music scene. I loved Art and DJing and occupied my early adulthood enjoying myself (earning the name Benji Blunt along the way). In my mid 20s, as a mature student, I studied to be a teacher. I worked for many years with Young Offenders, teaching Art and Music Technology. I slipped into customising trainers (sneakers) when my first son was born. I spent several years painting unique shoes for collectors. During this time I fell in love with the idea of making my own from scratch. Some years ago I decided to pursue that end, using a reference to my prison work and and part of a shoe (Shank) to name this new direction. Now, at home in my workroom I make my 1 of 1 handmade shoes. I also teach workshops, make tutorials, design shoes and restore vintage sneakers for collectors. I have also worked on SMU for brands like Reebok and Hummel. I love working with my hands and being inventive.
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