The Sole of Great Brak

René de Kock points to his suede vellies to tell me they’re Grasshoppers, when I ask about the brand known to generations of South Africans.

“These are rejects,” says René, who is the chairman of the museum at Great Brak River, a village along the Garden Route. Lightly scratched, he got them on discount at Bolton Footwear, the local shoe factory. The Grasshoppers add a sprightly look to René’s height and stern features. They’ve lasted for more than 15 years, and he has more pairs at home.

Inside the museum’s reading room, René volunteers to tell me about the storied shoe factory, where the Grasshoppers originated and continue to be