How To Eco-Chic
Your Summer Shoes
by Jennifer Merritt
Caring for your shoes cuts back on waste (and cost), since you're not tossing out your kicks as often. Here's how to green your shoeprint.
Shoes always fit, making them the easiest and most fun items to shop for, so cutting back on shoe shopping might seem like cutting back on your oxygen intake. But doesn't the idea of extending a pair's shelf life all the way until next summer sound better than needing to buy your favorites in bulk? It also is better on the environment: Most shoes are created with materials that are harmful to the environment, like chromium effluent and PVC, so buying less is best. Here, three steps to your longest lasting summer shoes ever:
STEP 1: Caring for today's eco-chic shoe styles
This season, anything goes — and goes on: Leather, suede and the trendy elements of cork and straw can be worn all summer long, even well into fall. Each material, however, requires different care.
Leather Shoes: To extend the durability of leather shoes, the aptly surnamed Lynn S. Green, an expert on living in sustainable style, suggests picking up jojoba oil or lanolin, both natural conditioners, from Now Foods and Whole Foods. "You'll want to apply it all over with a dry cloth, so that it doesn't spot," she advises, adding that a little goes a long way. Note that "it will darken light leather," Green says, "just like any other conditioner." Brushing with a suede brush can cure spots, your biggest worry with suede, she says. "Suede brushes are just the right bristle firmness so the suede doesn't scratch," she notes. Cura makes a brush that is shipped in recycled packaging.
Cork Shoes: Opt for olive oil, which will nourish the material and act as a water repellant for when you get caught in the rain, says Meghan Cleary, author of The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You. "Olive oil also will help give the cork its sheen back," she says, noting that the oil will darken it slightly. Smooth a bit of it on a dry cloth first and then gently wipe the cloth around the cork, she advises. Do so about once a month, or every two weeks if they undergo a lot of wear. You could also "go to your local green store [or home improvement store, like Home Depot or Lowe's] and get the cleaning product they recommend for cork flooring" to spruce up your shoes, says Linda Loudermilk, the designer behind the eco-friendly Loudermilk brand.
Straw or Jute Shoes: While it's true that with a delicate fiber like straw, fewer wearings equals less wear-and-tear, there are things you can do to lengthen the shelf life of a straw shoe. One is to become a master weaver, jokes Cleary. "They aren't easy to fix, but you can use an eco-friendly glue to smooth down frays," she says. Try Weldbond Vegan All-Purpose Glue, available at Vegan Essentials.
Stella McCartney's straw shoes
In general, you want to make sure all of your shoes get some moisture. "Wood and veneer — what a lot of shoes are made of — are natural substances, and you need to keep them moisturized," says Loudermilk. Her closet happens to be across from her bathroom, so after a shower, she opens her closet door to let the steam in. "Everything gets moist and it really keeps them fresher and helps them last longer," she claims. Placing a humidifier in your closet will have the same effect.
To help preserve shoes even further, stuff toes with the same tissue paper that came in the shoebox, which helps the shoes keep their shape, absorbs odor, and finds a place for the paper other than the trash can. Or you can use any paper this way. "Keep a pretty basket nearby," or in your closet, says Green, "so that you can toss the paper in it to be reused. Don't use colored tissue, because the color could rub off."
STEP 2: Putting inexpensive odor eaters into effect
Summer exacerbates sweating in your shoes, which leads to odor. Pretty and purposeful, Pearl Packs use a blend of plant extracts to neutralize odor molecules.
If you need an odor eater in a pinch, look no further than your refrigerator. Baking soda is a natural way to cure shoe smells. Simply sprinkle soda inside and shake it out before wearing.
Cedar shoetrees, particularly the adjustable shoe tree by Woodlore, are a great way to be rid of odor while also keeping your shoes in shape. All cedar used by the store has been responsibly harvested.
If you can, avoid any and all deodorant sprays. "Because of their small molecular make-up, sprays can act as a neurotoxin," says Green. You'll want to be sure that you're not spraying chemicals into your breathing space, as "that gets into the air and pollutes your lungs."
STEP 3: Getting green (as possible) organizers for gorgeous shoes
Clear boxes help you see what's inside quickly
Throwing shoes into your closet is hardly the best way to keep them in shape. Loudermilk keeps her shoes in clear boxes. Don't worry too much about investing in un-eco plastic. Here, it's more durable than any cardboard option, and if you pick up the clear, stackable, shoe-specific boxes from Shoe Stör, they'll also stay ventilated and resistant to mold.
Better yet, opt for a shoe rack made of eco-friendly bamboo, like this one available from Seville Classics.
You could also opt for a hanging rack, like this one from The Container Store. Follow these tips, and you'll have the finest — and greenest — kickers in town.