One can never overstate how easier things can be with quality tools, this sentiment also applies to shoe care and the brushes we use. Here is a comprehensive overview of various shoe brushes available and their respective uses as well as examples of good alternatives. Horsehair brush: Medium hard all-round …
Samuel Owen 
Shoe Waist definitions
This topic can be complex. Few things in shoedom are as baffling as understanding how the waist and its edges should be addressed correctly, where once defined as one thing has since morphed into another and its meaning changed with each new meaning-changing moment. Here, I aim to clarify everything …
Stretch shoes yourself
Stretching shoes has been discussed here on our blog many times before, stretching is the only effective way to enlarge smaller footwear. Here’s a helpful tip on how you can handle shoe stretching on your own. As most people know, the standard method for stretching shoes involves having them put …
Shoe trees
When it comes to prolonging the lifespan of your shoes, three core principles should be in place: shoe care, shoe trees and rest. Here, I provide extensive details regarding one such cornerstone shoe tree. Shoe trees are essential in helping keep shoes in their original shapes while assisting to dry …
Anatomy of the foot
Understanding foot anatomy and terms used can be of great assistance when trying on ready-to-wear shoes for the first time, particularly online shopping where trying on is unavailable. A knowledgeable salesperson should know which last shoe would fit which types of feet, by doing some research ahead of time you …
Toe shapes
Toe shapes occupy The design of a shoe’s toe is one of its most integral aesthetic elements, due to its prominent front location. As its shape determines much of how viewers interpret its overall shape. While there are various types of toe shapes out there, here I attempt to categorize …
Nubuck, suede and roughout leather explained
There’s a lot of misinformation and conflicting advice online regarding napped leathers such as nubuck, split suede, full reverse suede and roughout. In this post I explain each type of napped leather nubuck, split suede, full reverse suede and roughout. Here I go over each leather to explain its properties …
Avoid having laces press through the tongue
People wearing certain shoes often report feeling discomfort on the foot’s instep and under the tongue, often caused by having too thin of a tongue, making the laces push through too easily and creating “sharp points” against their foot. Here is how to remedy the issue. After wearing shoes for …
J.R. sole leather recipe sold to Kilger tannery
Following news that oak bark tanned sole leather tannery J. Rendenbach would close, many were hopeful for some sort of continuation for its products. Now it has been confirmed that fellow German tannery Kilger has acquired its recipe, equipment, tanning liquids and J.R. brand items; as well as taking over …
Resoling and re-heeling
Traditional stitched shoes often tout their ability to be resoled and repaired, yet the process isn’t always straightforward. Here is an outline of all possible methods of resoling and re-heeling that may apply, along with their potential restrictions and benefits based on various construction methods used for shoes. Re-heeling Its …