Care + Repairs
I believe in repairing, repurposing and thus prolonging the life-cycle of the shoes I create for as long as I possibly can. As well as designing shoes with the you and our lovely planet in mind, I believe in design for longevity. I create footwear to last and the materials I use, such as kangaroo leather and vegetable tanned leather are incredibly strong and actually wear-in and look even more beautiful over time, and can withstand your daily rotation and heavy use. They do however require some TLC to last as long as possible!
In the (very rare!) event a fault does happen with your shoes that could be attributed to the design, materials or craftsmanship, I promise to repair them so you can continue to cherish your handcrafted shoes, saving them from the depths of your wardrobe, or - even worse - landfill. This falls under the Returns and Exchanges policy which you can read through here.
For any things outside of my control, such as soling naturally wearing through over time, spills, damage caused by misuse, general wear etc - I can repair, customise or replace things for a reasonable fee or you can opt to visit your local shoe repairer (support other small businesses!) making sure to take with you the materials tag so your shoe repairer knows what’s what! If you’re not sure what to do, just get in touch at donebymatea@gmail.com
Find your style or material below for instructions on best care practices:
Fabrics
Any styles featuring silks, vintage fabrics, cotton etc should always be sealed with a fabric sealer such as Scotchgard, and re-sealed regularly depending on frequency of wear. In the unfortunate event of staining: for greasy marks - you can try using diluted dishwashing liquid in gentle circular motions, for water based marks - you can try using something like a "Magic Eraser", and for anything extra stubborn you can take it to your local dry cleaner (with the materials tag) or contact me.
Wooden Platforms + Heels
Any styles featuring wooden platforms or heels have already been sealed and should not require further sealing. To clean, simply wipe with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Vegetable Tanned Leather Soles
Leather soles are a lovely traditional material that is hardwearing and natural. When you first receive your shoes, the soling leather may be very smooth, so you can opt to rough them up on cement or gravel to give a bit of extra grip to the soling. With time leather soles will naturally wear down and require replacing. Keep an eye on the rate of wear, and make sure to get them resoled before they fully wear through a layer - ie you can see a hole to the next layer of shoe (uh oh!).
Rubber Grip
Your shoes may come with rubber grip on the forepart (toe area) of the shoe, the bottom of the heel, or through the whole sole. Rubber requires no special care, just a quick clean with a damp cloth or brush to get rid of any dirt. If you notice the rubber wearing down, as it will do naturally with wear, make sure to get it replaced before it wears through the entire layer.
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Puffy Heels
Upper: 100% Natural Mulberry Silk lined with leather, pre-sealed with Scotchgard. I advise that you re-apply Scotchgard to the silk depending how often you wear them. They should be kept away from moisture as this may cause marks on the silk. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately. The silk upper may be able to be dry cleaned, consult your local cleaner for more info.
Soles: with significant wear, the leather soles or heel rubber may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Not Paper Heels
Upper: Vegetable Tanned Leather. Comes lightly sealed, and does not require conditioning. However they should be kept away from moisture as this may cause the organic leather shapes to deform. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Soles: With significant wear, soles may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Sludge Sandals
Upper: Vegetable Tanned Leather with custom textured finish. To clean the textured finish, wipe gently with a damp cloth and let air dry. Avoid getting moisture on the leather parts of the upper and insole, as this may cause water staining.
Soles: With significant wear, soles may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
I'm a Pea Not A Pearl Heels
Upper: Vegetable Tanned Kangaroo Leather. Comes lightly conditioned, and should be conditioned at least once a year with Leather Conditioner. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Insole and Heel Covering: Recycled Bottle Satin. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Soles: With significant wear, the leather soles or heel rubber may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Everyday Slides - Whiskey / Sunset
Upper: Vegetable Tanned Kangaroo Leather. Comes lightly conditioned, and should be conditioned every few months with Leather Conditioner, depending on wear. Keep away from moisture. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Soles: With significant wear, the leather soles or heel rubber may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Everyday Slides - Black
Upper: Salvaged Leather. Comes lightly conditioned, and should be conditioned at least once a year with Leather Conditioner. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Soles: With significant wear, the leather soles or heel rubber may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Sunset Heels
Upper + Insole: Salvaged Metallic Leather + Recycled Bottle Fabric. Keep away from moisture. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately. Can be waterproofed with a scotchgard type fabric protector spray.
Soles: With significant wear, the rubber soling may need to be replaced. Please get in touch sooner rather than later with resoling concerns.
Daisy Belt
Material: Vegetable Tanned Leather. Comes lightly conditioned, and should be conditioned every few months with Leather Conditioner, depending on wear. Keep away from moisture. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
Solid Brass Belt Buckle: Brass will naturally tarnish over time. To restore, use a soft cloth with warm water and detergent to polish the surface, and then dry.
Deep Vibe Bag + Frangipani Belts
Material: Painted Vegetable Tanned Leather. Comes lightly conditioned, and sealed. Keep away from moisture. To clean, wipe gently with a damp cloth and dry immediately.