Deep in the hutongs of central Beijing, Zhang Guoqing settles himself in front of a traditional hand-operated sewing machine, occasionally glancing at an iPad displaying a pair of polished brown shoes.

Surrounding him, wooden shoe trees, metal tools and scraps of leather fill the cobbler's workshop. The 53-year-old shoemaker will remain seated in front of the second-hand sewing machine all day, except when sleeping and dining. "I have always dreamed of making shoes," he said.

Tailor-made shoes usually require several manufacturing steps and specialized staff to complete, but Zhang has been crafting and designing custom shoes by himself since he first opened the workshop in 1997.