Keep Your Boots and Shoes Looking New!

Does this situation sound familiar?

Step 1: Find the perfect pair of boots.

-There are so many styles of boots to choose from, and being the true shoe trooper you are, you stuck it out and delved through what seemed like hundreds of styles to find THE PAIR that you had been looking for.

Step 2: Buy them before everyone else does.

-Whew! You didn't think you would find THE PAIR, but by some miracle you have. Now you must buy them before someone else does. because you know it's only a matter of time before they sell out. The moment you slip on your new boots you realize the blood, sweat, and tears were well worth it.

Step 3...

-Wait...what? There's a step three?

Well since you spent a good amount on those brand spankin' new pair of boots, it would be a shame if you didn't try to keep them that way. That's where good shoe maintenance comes in. Properly maintaining your boots (or shoes) is the best way to keep them not only looking their best, but it also makes sure they will last their longest. So how do you do this? Two words: clean and protect.

Keeping your shoes clean is a good start. Dirt and grime not only make shoes look worn out and dull, it also causes them to wear out faster. If you have canvas or fabric shoes, using a shoe cleaner like Kiwi Select Universal Cleaner is a good way to keep them clean. For more delicate materials like nubuck or leather, using Kiwi Saddle soap is your best choice. Not only does Saddle soap do a good job of getting the dirt off shoes, it also keeps the leather moisturized (preventing cracking)!

After your shoes are clean, you'll want to protect them from the elements. If you are going to be out in a lot of rain, using a heavy-duty waterproofing product like Kiwi Mink Oil on your smooth leather boots or shoes is a good way to go, but if your shoes are made of other materials (such as suede, fabric, etc.), or if a lighter-duty protection is desired, using a silicone spray like Kiwi Select All Protector is a great alternative. As a bonus, spraying your shoes will also help repel stains! Always test any products on your shoes in an inconspicuous place first to make sure they are colorfast.

So where can you find these items? Sole Food, of course! Taking the small easy step to clean and protect your footwear is definitely worth the time and effort. THE PAIR of boots you've always wanted will now last that much longer and your shoes will definitely thank you for it.

How Green Are Your Shoes?

When thinking about ways of making our lives more green and eco-friendly, I bet that your shoes aren't the first thing to come to mind. However, there are surprisingly big changes happening within the footwear industry. And not only have shoe manufacturers gotten greener, so have we! Here are a few ways that we are trying to be more green:

Many of the brands that we carry have made environmental responsibility a core principle to their business. J-41, Keen, and Simple, for instance, are now making shoes with natural and recycled materials, water-based glues, and are trying to reduce their overall environmental footprint (no pun intended). The Spanish shoe brand El Naturalista has been doing this since their inception in 2001. El Nat's are environmentally friendly and built to last. Here are a couple of the latest El Naturalistas we have in our store right now: the N440 shoe in Mora and the N443 boot in Olive from their Wakataua line.


















Not only are we carrying greener shoes and accessories, but we have also implemented a recycling program for our store that has lowered our waste by over 70%! All this talk of green making you want to save some? We are a Seattle Weekly Green Card business. Visit http://greencard.seattleweekly.com/ to learn more!