Product Care
Instructions
Product care
Your pair was painted by hand in thin, flexible layers and then sealed. Treated kindly it will stay bright for years and can be worn well beyond the wedding day.
The short version
Wipe away dirt gently with a soft cloth dampened with mild soap and water. Never submerge the shoes — that damages the materials. For a stubborn mark, use a cleaner made for sneakers. Let them air dry naturally, away from direct heat, so they keep their shape and colour. Store them somewhere cool and dry when they are not on your feet, ideally in a box or a dust bag. Follow that and you will get years out of them.
Before the first wear
- Let them settle. Unbox them and leave them at room temperature for a day before wearing, especially if they arrived in cold weather.
- Flex them gently. Bend the sole slowly by hand a few times rather than forcing a sharp crease on the first step.
- Break them in indoors. Wear them around the house for an hour or two on a clean floor before the wedding. It softens the shoe and confirms the fit while there is still time to act.
- Add a protective spray if you wish. A light, even coat of a non-silicone water and stain repellent made for canvas adds a layer of insurance. Test on a small hidden area first, spray from about 20 cm away, and let it dry fully.
Everyday cleaning
- Brush off loose dust and dry dirt with a soft dry brush or a clean cloth first. Never rub wet dirt into the paint.
- Dampen a soft white cloth with cool water and a drop of mild soap. Wring it out until it is barely wet.
- Dab and wipe gently in the direction of the brushwork. Do not scrub, and do not use circular pressure on painted areas.
- Wipe again with a cloth dampened in plain water to lift any soap residue.
- Blot dry with a towel and let the shoes air dry away from direct sun and radiators.
Never put them in a washing machine. A machine cycle will lift paint and warp the shoe. A soft bristle brush and patience does a better job than any machine, and it is the method we use ourselves.
How we make them last
Handcrafted
Our custom sneakers are made in our own workshop. Every pair is painted with care and checked in detail before it is packed.
Quality over quantity
Other workshops chase mass production and fast turnaround. We take the time each pair needs so that everything we send out meets the same standard.
Materials that flex
We use professional-grade leather and canvas paints and finishers, chosen because they stay flexible and hold colour instead of sitting brittle on the surface.
Questions about the finish
How durable is the paint used?
We use professional-grade leather and canvas paints together with a matching finisher, the class of product made specifically for painting footwear rather than general craft paint. Applied in thin layers and sealed, the finish stays flexible with the shoe, which is what keeps colour from lifting at the creases. On leather, canvas and most synthetics the result is a finish that holds its colour with normal wear.
Will my sneakers crack, scratch or peel?
They are built to resist it. Thin layers, full drying time between coats and a sealing finisher all work against cracking, scratching and peeling, and the sealer adds a protective barrier against everyday wear. No shoe is completely immune to damage — kerbs, solvents and machine washing will beat any finish — but with the care above a pair holds up for years rather than a single night.
How can I clean my customised sneakers?
Not in a washing machine. Use a soft bristle brush for dry dirt, then a barely damp cloth with a drop of mild soap for marks, working in the direction of the brushwork. Air dry away from heat. Full steps are in the everyday cleaning section above.
Storage and long-term care
- Keep them in a cool, dry place — a shoebox or a dust bag keeps dust off the paint.
- Do not leave them in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill. Heat and UV fade colour.
- Stuff the toe box with acid-free tissue if you are storing them for a long time, so they hold their shape.
- If they get soaked, blot them, stuff them with paper and let them dry slowly at room temperature. Never use a hairdryer or a radiator.