Taking Care of Pu Sole Shoes

Did you know that some shoes benefit from being worn more often? It seems counter-intuitive – if we’ve invested good money in high quality shoes, our instinct is to not wear them too much, in order to help them last longer. But shoes with PU soles actually beg to be worn as much as possible to keep them in top condition! Find out more about the reasons for that, and how to look after your shoes with PU soles here…

What is PU?
PU stands for polyurethane, and it’s a lightweight durable plastic material from which the soles of shoes are often made. Not only is PU very lightweight; it’s also flexible, bending easily – enhancing comfort levels – and has a thermal-insulating effect, meaning shoe soles made from PU will feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer. In addition, PU soles provide good resistance to slipping.

Polyurethane Soles Hydrolysis:

Many of our styles shoes are made from havePU soles. Although a highly durable material, if stored for prolonged periods of time without wear, it can be prone to a process known as hydrolysis – this chemical process can cause the material to disintegrate. This happens more frequently in coastal areas, like KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Give hydrolysis the boot by:

• Thoroughly cleaning the PU soles (and the leather uppers) before putting shoes away for storage
• Give your PU soles some attention – don’t save your shoes for a special occasion; your shoes are meant to be worn!
• Switch it up, so your shoes don’t spend months in a shoe cupboard or a box – you can wear summer sandals with jeans on warmer winter days; or boots with dresses on cooler summer days (super-trendy, right now!).

See the Swing Tag!
Our shoes with PU soles are provided with a swing tag that tells you how to treat them right – do take note of what’s on the tag and, most importantly, wear and enjoy your  shoes!