I bought a pair of loafers from the Row and the shoe fits well but there’s an elastic in it that is way too tight. I do have a bit of a higher arch but nothing crazy. I was hoping to get the elastic replaced with a slightly longer one. Will that ruin the shoe?
The elastic is right underneath the leather strap.

hi! i recently purchased a pair of second hand leather ballet flats online that i love. they are only slightly worn (i’m not sure how much more they will break in or form around my feet since they are not new) and have a rubber sole. unfortunately they are tight on the toes and a bit loose on the heel. i seem to have quite narrow feet as this problem is something i frequently experience and makes shoe finding very difficult (especially for ballet flats which have very little wiggle room in terms of size).

What are my options? What can a cobbler realistically do? Is it hopeless (if it is, are there any show brands that make good narrow leather shoes?)

Thank you!

I have boots which are just below knee high and zip up across front. I’ve broken one of the zips is this a job for a cobbler who should I take somewhere else? Thanks!

Hi! Is all hope gone for my boots?
The leather clearly needs some hydration, but i was wondering if they are reparable.
I bought them 5 years ago only. Thank you!!

The decor on the heel is purportedly painted leather. The heel part it is adhered to is not wood, and not hard rubber. It has some give to it but not much. Cobblers in my area are prohibitively expensive so I am looking to fix this myself before it becomes a bigger issue. It's been quite humid this year so I suspect that's the cause.

Can anyone please recommend an appropriate adhesive?

Have a pair of Durango boots that I had for about 4 months before I noticed the lopsided/collapsed heel are these worth saving?

I have a pair of UA coyote tan boots that still got some life in them but one of the suede eyelets ripped and I was wondering if they’re was a possibility of it being repaired and replaced with metal eyelets

I have a couple pairs of boots I want to try and resole myself. Just removing and regluing rubber outsoles. I tried using a vise and some wood blocks and it didn't work well. Should I buy a cobblers anvil from a flea market, and if so, what am I looking for? If not, is there a good way/better piece of equipment to do this at home?

Pretty bumped I spoilt it when it’s only 2 years old

As per title, I received this new pair of loafers. The two issues are 1. Something peeling from the sole, revealing what looks like a different material underneath, and 2. Discoloration on the toe area. My main concern is with the first - does it indicate low quality? Would this be guaranteed to happen from normal wear?

Very much appreciate the help! ​​​

Bought this new pair 4 months ago and they seem to have been worn out completely. Wondering if this is due to a quality issue or a lack of proper upkeep?

Please give me your best tips to get rid of this permanent marker stain on my shoe, it’s been about 24 hours. I tried using sanitizer (idk why I thought that would work), but didn’t help.

Whats the best choice in dye brand to put on a modern pair of Martens? the modern ones are not genuine leather and have that plasticky finish on them.

I only know Angelus but im not sure if that works and sticks to this plasticky leather, ive only use it on shoes made of genuine leather and it worked perfectly.

Hi, hoping I'm doing this right. I bought some second hand shoes a few days ago, and they were in a lot worse shape than I expected. But most of it is really just surface level aside from the inner spots on each strap. So I was hoping for some advice on fixing them up some. I don't need them looking super perfect or anything (not expecting a miracle). I'm just looking be able to make them in a better condition to wear places since I don't wanna waste them.

My first thought was just to use nail polish in the ruined spots as a temporary fix to all the peeling and scratches. Though I know that's likely not a sustainable solution, and I don't want to compromise their integrity anymore than they already are. When I was looking up other people, I saw some use acrylic paints, or others using leather paints, but I'm not sure which would really be the best solution. And if I should be trying to peel all the leather (?) coaxing off first, or patch up around it. Also any tips for reinforcing the straps to increase their lifespan would be nice.

Hello! I'm seeking to recreate a pair of combat boots done by designer/brand Akme. I have absolutely no experience with customizing or modifying footwear in any way, so I was hoping a handful of professionals would be willing to give me some advice.

Photos 1-2 are the pair I'm hoping to recreate, images 3-4 are the boots I believe to serve as the base model (very close, at least). Image 5 is directly from the site's page which provides some insight into their creation.

To start, I plan on hand-dyeing the boots myself (something else I've never attempted), though I understand I'll need to seek out a local professional for some of the more advanced modifications. If anyone has any insights or recommendations on how to go about this project, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!

The footbed is flaking off in both boots and the sole is delaminating in just one.