Made to Last
great shoes
are like perfectly broken-in jeans. They should only get better with wear, and EITHER/OR shoes are designed to do just that. Here are our tips for keeping your shoes maintained and protected so that they can age beautifully, the way they are meant to.
vegetable-tanning
What makes E/O's vegetable-tanned leather different from the leather used in most modern footwear production?
Vegetable-tanning is a natural, non-toxic process of preserving leather hides. It uses tannins instead of toxic chemicals as the curing agent; tannins occur naturally in the bark and leaves of plants. If you're thinking to yourself--"Like the tannins in wine?" Yep, same kind!
Vegetable-tanned leathers are 100% biodegradable, and are more durable than most generic leathers. They have increased breathability compared to synthetic alternatives, which maximizes comfort while minimizing odor, and develop a beautiful character and rich patina over time.
BREAKING IN
Tip for breaking in your newest pair? Wear, wear, wear!
The leather lining of E/O shoes is breathable and will stretch and mold to your foot after the first few wears.
Our insoles include support in the form of minimal leather arches with will custom fit to your own arch with wear.
The benefit of making our shoes in 100% leather is that the longer you wear them, the more broken-in and soft they will become, molding to your foot like they were custom-made for you.
care & maintenance
Now let's keep those shoes in tip-top shape.
Best practices for maintaining your shoes:
1// Keep leather and feet as dry as you can (we know, we know--rainy days happen!)
2// Store shoes out of extreme heat or humidity
3// If leather looks dry or ashy, treat it with a leather conditioning oil (these are readily available online or at your local shoe repair shop). As our shoe repair guys says, "Don't forget to moisturize your shoes--it's skin, after all!"
And when your pairs have walked a few hundred miles:
1// The color of the upper will naturally and beautifully darken over time
2// Leather outsoles and heels can be replaced by your local shoe repair shop, at a fraction of the cost of a new pair of shoes
cleaning
What to do when the inevitable happens.
To remove odor or moisture // Place sandals in a bag of baking soda overnight. The next day, wipe baking soda off with a soft, dry cloth.
To remove dirt and stains // Brush off any dirt or dust with a soft, dry cloth. Use saddle soap to spot-clean any stubborn stains (remember the wine from earlier?). Wipe away excess soap residue with a dry cloth before applying a leather conditioning oil to moisturize the leather.
To protect // Condition your shoes with leather conditioning oil every 3-6 months to help protect them from staining and to provide moisture resistance.
Please reach out to us at support@shopeitheror.com with any other questions!