10 ways to look after your shoes & accessories from home
Whilst we all navigate the current state of the world from our homes and we grow accustomed to a drastic change in lifestyle, we can’t help but feel in some ways hopeful that this may be the time we all consider a slower way of life. In the age of over consumption perhaps this period is forcing the world to slow down and give us the time to reconsider our purchasing habits investing in those items that go well beyond 30 wears and allowing us to care for the things we already own. As we continue to send a staggering 2 million tonnes of textiles to landfill, which wastes both resources and the finished product, we must change our consumer approach towards fashion by learning to take care of our items better ensuring they last longer.
Designers are now looking at ways to create pieces made from recycled fabric or biodegradable materials so products start their life cycle within a key part of the circular economy. Although this is inspiring and encouraging consumers to purchase better made products, we are perhaps still encouraging over consumption. Repair is integral to circularity and with the vast capabilities and possibilities available in aftercare we can inspire and change consumer mindsets to move away from such a throwaway society. At The Restory we want you to feel empowered to mindfully invest in the brands you love and inspire you to take care of your items, doing as much as you can to look after them.
Follow our top tips on how to look after your items from home:
1. Use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to clean the sole of your trainers to allow you to get deep into the sole markings. Just dip it in warm soapy water and wipe away the excess dirt and water as you go.
2. For suede shoes or bags, we recommend using a rubber brush specifically made for suede. This will not only help remove the dust and build up that suede typically attracts but it will also revive the nap.
3. Condition your leather items with an appropriate leather cream to keep the leather nourished and moisturised. (They need it as much as we do!) Make sure you buff the leather with a clean cloth after conditioning. Do not use on veg leather, suede or nubuck, if in doubt get in touch with service@the-restory.com
4. Put tea bags (any kind will do) inside your shoes to eliminate any lingering odours when storing them away.
5. Use shoe trees to preserve the shape of your shoes and ensure they don’t get squashed at the bottom of your wardrobe.
6. Polish any hardware on your bags with a dry cloth to keep the shine as much as possible.
7. Avoid using baby wipes to clean your shoes and bags at all costs as this can do more harm than good due to the lotions they often contain. Try a damp cloth or specialist cleaner suited to the material.
8. Put a small towel or pillow in your bags when they aren’t in use. Leather has memory so this will help prevent them from folding and creasing which is difficult to rectify.
9. Keep your bags in their dust bags if possible to keep them dust free and avoid any potential scratches on hardware or any possible colour transfer from other items.
10. Your shoe laces, particularly trainers, attract lots of dirt and dust that isn’t as simple to wipe off. Remove them and leave to soak in soapy water. If white, add a little stain remover. Be sure to iron out the creases once they’ve been through the wash.
