Sistersshare247 : SISTERS AT WORK - RONKE ADESHINA (RA)

Sistersshare247 : SISTERS AT WORK - RONKE ADESHINA (RA): One word .....Bespoke !  MEET CEO- RONKE ADESHINA RA Why shoe business? I have always loved shoes. I bought ...

Sistersshare247 : SISTERS AT WORK - RONKE ADESHINA (RA)

Sistersshare247 : SISTERS AT WORK - RONKE ADESHINA (RA): One word .....Bespoke !  MEET CEO- RONKE ADESHINA RA Why shoe business? I have always loved shoes. I bought ...

SHOE KNOW HOW: 5 SIGNS YOUR SHOES NEED REPLACING

These shoes need replacing….

Do you need excuses to buy new shoes? I wouldn’t dream of encouraging that kind of reckless behavior (but sometimes it is good to indulge *wink*).

If you are unsure as to whether your shoes are on their last legs, check through this list.

Signs that your shoes need replacing

*The uppers have holes. If your shoes are letting in water, it’s definitely time to let them go. Even the highest  quality shoes have a shelf life, and however much you love them, shoes that have sprung a leak are never going to last for long. Best get rid before you catch something.

*They are damaging your feet. Perhaps the arch support has ‘gone’ or part of the straps have worn through, making them feel rough against the skin. Maybe they never fitted you particularly well in the first place-but in either case the odds are they won’t suddenly fit the way you want them to, so best to cut your losses and chuck them out.

*You can no longer read the brand label. Perhaps only one for shoe purists, some will keep a pair of shoes only as long as the brand name can still be clearly read on the inner sole of the shoe. In many cases this is a good guide to the point at which a shoe becomes ‘worn out’ but it can depend on the make -  and on whether or not you wear them with socks.

*The leather/uppers are scuffed. A bit of minor scratching and crumpling is inevitable unless you only wear shoes indoors, but once you can no longer disguise the wear and tear with a bit of polish, the shoes will be looking ‘scruffy’. If that’s not a look you want to cultivate, ditch them.

*You don’t remember buying them. Try to remember what inspired you to buy these shoes, where you got them, what you wanted them for at the time and as many other details as you can. If you’re drawing a total blank (or simply thinking ‘why the HELL did I ever think they did look good?) then you probably have a case for ditching those shoes.

Can my shoes be repaired?

Don’t rush to throw out your shoes if there’s still a bit of life in them: a much loved shoe or boot can be often re-heeled for years of extra wear, and in many cases this will be much cheaper than replacing them with a similar pair. Your shoe can probably still be salvaged if the following applies:

*There is no structural damage to the uppers (leather);

*Damage to the heel has not extended to the sole;

*The damage is to embellishments, not the main body of the shoe.

Caring For Leather Shoes in Wet/Rainy Weather/Season

Rain some consider it a blessing and others really don’t. Why? Because you can’t dress as you please under rainy conditions.

Clothes designers have come up with fashionable apparel that is suitable for rainy seasons, shoe designers are yet to conclusively come up with a shoe that serves both utility and fashion during wet season (except the rubber shoes which aren’t all that fashionable). This leaves majority of shoe wearers in a dilemma as to whether to go for a chic looking shoe to match their attire or a weather appropriate shoe that does no justice to their overall look. In most cases, they choose the former.

Wearing your regular leather, suede or fabric shoes during rainy seasons has quite a number of challenges. It’s impossible to avoid mud and water during rainy season, of course with the exception of those who own vehicles (but it still possible you get in contact with water and mud). In as much as regular cleaning through polishing or using water resistant sprays will help the shoes to remain in good condition for a while, when trudging through the rain water and mud, one always runs the risk of ruining good footwear. Repeated contact with rain water spoils your shoes.

Remedy:

If you have to wear your shoes in the rain, below are a number of precautions that must be taken in order to ensure that your shoes serve you satisfactorily under such circumstances.

• Ensure you have multiple pairs of shoes: This will give the wet shoes ample time to dry properly before storage and subsequently, the next wear. Damp leather is sensitive to heat, which will harden the shoes and form cracks when flexed.
• How to dry the shoes: Leather should never be dried directly under sunlight as they will become as dry as sandpaper thus form cracks. As a means of artificially drying the shoes, you can either stuff them with newspaper crumpled into balls or even stuffed with tissue papers, as they absorb the water from the inside part of the shoes.
• The problem of moisture: The glue that firmly holds the upper sole is weakened by moisture. In addition, if the shoes are not used for a long time, moisture may even cause cracks in the soles. A small packet of baking soda or charcoal will prevent moisture, odour and bacteria from accumulating in the shoes.
• Socks are a must: Even if they get wet, socks act as a barrier between the skin and the leather. Direct skin contact with leather footwear especially when wet can cause bacterial growth.
  
• Regular polishing: Wax polish is always good on shoes, as they repel water and prevent shoe damage. This however, is limited depending on amount of water the shoes are externally exposed to.

• Be suede smart: The wet cleaning remedies that work for smooth leather aren’t good for suede, which needs to stay dry so it doesn’t lose its texture. Instead, quickly rub off overall dirt with a kneadable eraser (grab one from your kid’s art box), or just lightly remove obvious stains with an emery board. To raise the nap of suede that’s flattened, scrub briskly with a clean toothbrush or terry cloth towel. If it’s really matted, hold the shoe a few inches above the spout of a steaming teakettle for a few seconds, then brush up the nap. Please note, use appropriate suede spray for your suede shoes. Black suede spray for black suede shoe, brown suede spray for brown suede shoe. If you can’t get suede spray in colours like green, red and others, use a neutral spray. When using coloured spray, ensure you cover your hands with rubber gloves (or nylon if you can’t get rubber gloves). Also make sure you protect area so it doesn’t get stained because its very difficult to remove such stains)

Whereas these remedies will provide simple solutions to the challenges encountered when wearing your favourite leather or suede shoes during rainy seasons, it is still highly recommended that you avoid exposing your shoes to such wet conditions if you want to maximise their durability.

Rain is a gift from God, so enjoy it fashionably *wink*

A Little Shoe Education

I was with a client talking about the kind of material to use for her shoes and I was mentioning
different types/names of materials and she had this blank look on her face, like ‘what are you talking about?’, I just had to laugh; we both had a good laugh though. And she is not the only one. Since I started making shoes and bags, I noticed that most people do not have an idea of what material the shoe they wear or bag they carry is made from; the general name for everything is leather.

So I have decided to do a little education on names of materials and fabrics shoes are made from. Also note that, knowing this would also make you know how to take care of your shoes and bags.

LEATHER: Made of animal skin with smooth finishing. This material is known to everyone.Care of leather: Polish shoe regularly to preserve moisture and maintain shine.
        
SUEDE: Made from the underside of the skin, primarily lamb, although goat, calf and deer are commonly used. That is why most designers describe products made from them calf skin or goat skin. So it should be noted that they all suede.

Here, there is also Nubuck. Nubuck is a brushed grain-suede leather with a soft-velvety surface and is one of the most expensive leather to purchase.
Care of suede:

• Use a soft bristle brush to lightly lift away dirt.  
• Use appropriate suede spray. Neutral suede spray is for all colours, black suede spray for black, brown for brown (care should be taken when using suede spray especially black suede spray so as not to stain other fabrics). 
• Waterproof suede and nubuck shoes.
• Masking tape can also be used to lift away.

PATENT LEATHER: Leather with a glossy impermeable finish. People usually call this ‘shinny leather’.
Care of patent leather:

• Rub in petroleum jelly and leave for a while to soak in. Then buff with a soft clean cloth. This will not only keep them shiny but also prevent them from cracking.
• To remove scuff marks from coloured patent leather shoes, use nail polish remover, but be sure that the remover isn’t highly colourful or too harsh like the regular cheap ones we have around. If the nail polish remover is too colourful, it may also put a tint on your patent leather (and be careful of any polish you may be wearing). Put a small bit on a cotton ball or paper towel/toilet roll and rub on the scuffs you want to get rid. Really deep scuffs probably would not come off but this should remove any minor scuffs or discolouration. Then add glossiness back by using a bit of petroleum jelly.

PERFORATED LEATHER: Commonly used for brogues. This is leather with holes to form a pattern. The holes can vary in size, density and pattern.

Shoes and bags are also made from fabrics like satin, silk, taffeta, lace, etc. They are delicate and should be handled with care. Fabric or canvas shoes can often be cleaned by hand or machine washing (but I would suggest hand wash). Fill them with crumpled newsletter after washing to maintain their shape while drying.

Hope this has been helpful.....



Tips from ShoeFetish by Ronke Adeshina

Do You Know Your Shoe Size?

Have been making foot - wears for a while now and I realised that most people don't know what shoe size they wear. So here's a little guide to help. Hope you find it helpful. Note: In the chart below, M = Male; F = Female.             Love RA  :)

Heel Height Conversion Table

Hello ladies. You know how some of us wear heels and don’t know how many inches they are and if we can actually walk well in them. Well, here’s a heel height conversion table which would help know if you can carry yourself in those heels or you need a level of experience to walk in a 10inches heel shoes ;)

Inches	Centimeters (cm)	Millimeters (mm)	Heel Height	Experience Required
1	2.5cm	25mm	Low	None
2	5.2cm	52mm	Low	Minimal
3	7.6cm	76mm	Medium	Some/Minimal
3&half	8.9cm	89mm	Medium	Some/Minimal
4 4&half 5	10.2cm 11.4cm 12.8cm	102mm 114mm 128mm	High High High	Experience in wearing heels required
6 7 8	15.3cm 17.8cm 20.4cm	153mm 178mm 204mm	Ultra high Ultra high Ultra high	Expert in wearing heels required
9 10	22.9cm 25.4cm	229mm 254mm	Ultra High Ultra High	Expert in wearing heels required

So ladies, before you buy those super high heel shoes, ask for the heel height and make sure its something you can strut around town in.

Cheers…