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March 03, 2017
Are you less than impressed with the options at your favorite shoe store? You don’t have to settle for average shoes or show up in the same shoes as someone else. Instead, customize your shoes to show off your creative side or match your favorite outfit perfectly, to stand out in a sea of boring sneakers.
Forget paying big bucks to order customized shoes. Instead, make your own easily at home! You have many options to customize your sneakers on your own. A little creativity goes a long way, and each of these methods produces a wide array of results, depending on how you apply the customization.
Check out these ways to customize your shoes:
Absolutely! Spray paint is a quick way to cover the shoe completely. The paint stays on the surface of the shoe, rather than soaking into the material. With so many colors and types of spray paint available, this handy trick for customizing your shoes gives you a tremendous amount of versatility.
The answer is “Yes!” The dye actually soaks into the material to change the color of your shoes. Dying shoes correctly is key to getting the look you want.
Another simple way to update your footwear is to use custom shoelaces for sneakers. Elastic shoelaces not only give you versatile color options, but they also make your shoes comfortable and easy to wear without tying them each time.
One option for boring shoe solutions is to spray paint your kicks. When you spray paint shoes, you’re adding a layer of color on top of the existing shoe. This means you can change the color to anything you want. You can turn a dark shoe a light color, or vice-versa.
Spray painting works best to change the color of leather and synthetic shoes. Choose a type of spray paint that works on the specific type of material your shoe is made from. Many spray paint brands make special paint that works on plastic, leather, vinyl and similar materials. Floral spray paint is another option that works well, because it’s flexible and is less likely to crack or wrinkle over time as the shoe material moves.
When you spray paint shoes, you need the following materials:
Start by covering your work surface with a drop cloth or plastic sheet. Choose a well-ventilated area, as spray paint tends to have strong fumes. Once your work area is ready, you can complete the following steps:
Spray painting shoes is similar to spray painting other items, but there are a few shoe-specific things to keep in mind. Use these tips to get the look you want on your spray-painted shoes:
When deciding how to color shoes, dyeing is another option. Dye changes the color of the shoe fabric, but it doesn’t cover it up. In other words, it’s a transparent layer of color. This means any blemishes on the shoe still show after dyeing. They may be less noticeable with a dark layer, but they may still be visible.
When you dye shoes, you always go darker. Also keep in mind that, since it’s a transparent coloring, the existing color still remains. If you dye your tan shoes a green color, the tan color is still there, so the results may not be quite what you expect. Remember that dye is permanent, so once you dye the shoes, you can’t take it back.
White canvas provides the perfect canvas for dye. The white color means any color of dye works well. Other colors of canvas also work, but keep in mind the original color may show through. Canvas also absorbs dye well, taking on a rich color.
Check the packaging of your selected dye to determine exactly what you need. In general, the materials needed to dye canvas shoes include:
Because dye is permanent, protecting your work area is crucial — unless you want a tie-dyed countertop! Cover your work surface with plastic sheeting or a plastic tablecloth before you start. Using metal pots, glass measuring containers and metal utensils keeps those items from taking on any unwanted color.
Before prepping your dye, cover any areas you don’t want to dye using waterproof tape. Waterproof first aid tape works well. Apply the tape carefully along the rubber edging at the base of the shoe. Remove the shoelace. If you plan to keep the original laces, you can either leave them the original color or place them in the dye to match the new shoe color.
You can dye your canvas shoes in one of two ways: submerged in a dye bath or dye-painted with sponge brushes. The dye bath method is faster, since you dunk the entire shoe in the dye. The dye-painting method gives you more control over the dye application.
To use the dye bath method, follow these steps:
If you prefer the painting method, follow these steps:
You can also get creative with how you dye your shoes. Here are some ideas:
You can also dye leather shoes using a brush-on painting method. Use dye made specifically for the type of leather on your shoes. Synthetic leather typically doesn’t take dye well, even if the dye says it’s made for synthetic leather, so proceed with caution with these types of shoes. Work in an area with good ventilation, as some of the chemicals and dyes used on leather have harsh fumes.
You’ll need the following supplies to tackle the project:
Leather dye comes with different base options, including water, oil and alcohol bases. Alcohol-based dyes tend to dry quickly and with vivid results. If you choose an alcohol-based product, be sure to use proper ventilation.
Leather shoes typically have coatings on them that can prevent the dye from coloring the shoes completely. Preparing the shoes is an important step to remove that coating and get a consistent color. Follow these steps to prep and dye the leather shoes:
Get creative when dyeing your leather shoes by applying different colors to different areas. You might use a darker color on the toe, for example.
No matter what type of shoe material you dye, your methods affect how the shoes will turn out. If you skip important steps, your shoes will likely look like an amateur home job, which is not the look you want.
Improve the chances of shoe-dyeing success with these helpful tips:
A simple way to add a unique touch to your shoes is to replace the laces with custom shoelaces. You can combine the shoelace change with dyeing or spray-painting your shoes, or you can ease into shoe customization by only changing the laces.
The way the laces go into your shoes plays a role in the look. Changing the way you insert your laces into your shoes can give them a quick update with little effort. Our elastic shoelaces offer many versatile lacing options.
Try one of these lacing methods to customize your shoes:
Elastic shoelaces let you convert your kicks into a no-tie shoe style. This gives you a seamless look and makes your shoes quick and easy to slip on as you head out the door. They work well for kids and adults.
Our shoelaces use lace anchors for the no-tie method. You secure the ends of the laces into the anchors and trim them to the appropriate length. We recommend wearing your shoes for a day before cutting them to ensure you get the length just right. You can secure the anchors so they fall on the outside of the shoe, or so they’re hidden on the inside of the shoe.
Are you ready to step out in custom shoe glory? Whether you dye, spray paint or choose another method, don’t forget your shoelace solutions. Grab Xpand® laces in colors that show your bold style. Go with our classic neutrals for a subtle look, or choose from one of our vibrant colors to make the laces stand out! When you're done, snap a picture and tag @xpandlacingsystem on Instagram!
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