REPAIRS & SHOE CARE

REPAIRS & SHOE CARE

A perfect surface is an indication of a leather that has been over-processed or is synthetic. We like our shoe leathers natural, with character like the hands that craft them... Here are our care tips for looking after your shoes.

Shoe polish Mostly, the leathers we use are dyed all the way through, so scuffs and scrapes to your shoes can be disguised with a touch of similar shade polish. We recommend Woly for a broad colour spectrum.

Bees wax resin or Protective Spray to keep them more water-resistant. 

Dry footwear at room temperature Leather is a skin and by nature absorbent. If caught in heavy rain, dry at room temp, never under a heater. Once dry, there are plenty of leather products on the market to help revive them.

Treat with care Luxurious textures are less resistant to abrasion, and a little extra care is needed when wearing them. Red wines, oils, coffee can all stain - and some leathers are more durable or delicate than others. We can help advise you on whether it is an everyday or more special shoe that you require, before purchase.

Take Care in the Sun. Leather does patina with time, we all do! Being natural and organic means it can be sensitive to light and humidity. If regularly wearing your shoes in very hot temperatures, please treat them like your own skin and make sure exposure isn’t too long, as some lighter colours can literally tan. 

Replace leather soles The beauty of leather soles is that when the time comes, they are a component that can be replaced - longevity assured. They appear sensitive at first but soon toughen to the road with wear. That said, please avoid heavy rain and don’t submerge your soles in puddles. Any leather sole can disintegrate if it has been wet too much. You can help superficially by adding a thin rubber ‘sticker sole’ to the bottom if you wish, but as above, they are made to be replaced. 

Insoles and Shoe laces We now offer these at Tracey Neuls for when your shoes need a refresh. A simple switch can make all the difference.

Shoe Trees or Tissue Paper For our softer styles like Magritte, try inserting a shoe tree or tissue paper to keep the shape when you are not wearing them.

REFLECTIVE SHOES

Our reflective shoes react to light and burn on and off with intensity. However, like any light sources they have a lifetime - please be aware that these shoes have a shorter life than a hardy leather equivalent. 

Try to not expose them to heavy downpours as the material is water-resistant (which means that the water isn’t going to get in easily) but it is not waterproof. The flex and give of 3M reflective fabric means that it can tear if subjected to stresses like quick-drying after exposure to heavy rain. 

Store in dry places and away from sunlight heat or dampness to keep the party going longer.

For dust or slight dirt, we usually suggest cleaning with Baby Wipes as they are very gentle on the material. Likewise, any sensitive shoe cleaning foam or cream will suffice. You can find good ones from such brands as Loake or Saphir.

CREPE SOLES

 Crepe is a natural rubber tapped from the Pará tree. It is generally low maintenance, but for longevity you might want to avoid exposing them to really hot temperatures, or petrol oil, which can lead to cracking.

 To clean natural Crepe soles use an eco-friendly , clear detergent, lather with a little warm water, taking care not to splash on the leather, and use a cloth to work into any dirt on the soles. Use a brush if the dirt is hard to remove.

DO NOT use abrasive cleaning solvents as they might permanently damage the sole. 

PATENT LEATHER

Patent leather has a plastic coating and in time surface creases or cracks may appear. This is irreversible and part of the material properties of patent leather. Clean with a damp cloth or baby wipes, then a dry cloth to gently rub any streaks away.

VEGETABLE DYED LEATHER

Veg tan is a leather dyeing process that is better for the environment and more natural on the leather. Maintaining its natural oils, the leather ensures that most marks can be rubbed out with pressure from your finger. The leather ages naturally and colours can darken and change in a process that should be embraced. We love colour but sometimes this can transfer to fabric if the shoes get wet. Try to keep them dry, and if they do get wet let them dry naturally, and fully before wearing again. Our leather shoes are a timeless product to be worn and loved. 

Read more on Veg-tanning here

PRINT, TEXTILE, TEXTURE

We are known for our innovative use of print and texture, creating extraordinarily tactile designs. Sometimes the special material used has obvious sensitivities -  be it sequins, shimmering material, surface print or glass beads. Exquisite, delicate materials need extra care. Please bear this in mind when selecting, and wearing your shoes. 

REPAIRS

We hope that you will be 100% satisfied with your Tracey Neuls shoes, however, if there is a problem or a fault, we ask you to please email photos and details of the item in question to shoes@traceyneuls.com. It will be forwarded to our production manager or factory manager to assess the fault or repair it professionally.  

We will be able to advise if the shoes can be repaired independently at your local cobbler’s. In special circumstances, we will ask for the shoes to be brought or sent to one of our boutiques so that our Production Team can assess them in person. Please note that our production team will see if the shoes are faulty from a manufacturing default, or if a routine cobbler refurbishment is needed. Items that are damaged as a result of customer wear are not considered faulty or defective. As the supplier, we retain the right to deem if footwear is defective, or damaged from customer wear and tear.

Please note we will not accept repairs dropped off at the shops without being notified by email first.

 Leather is exquisite and should be enjoyed. Quality, handcrafted designs are worth repairing and if well cared for, leather shoes do last and are an investment. For any more information about shoe care please feel free to email us at shoes@traceyneuls.com.