MYTH:
New shoes don’t need to be shined. Shoes only need to be shined when they start to look worn.
FACT:
If you’ve made an investment in a pair of shoes that you love and want to last, there are several reasons why it is important to get them shined before you first wear them.
Leather is skin that can no longer produce its own oils to stay supple, so it will naturally become dry over time.
Much of the damage that occurs to leather – tears, cracks, gouges, scuffs, stains, water damage, and color fading/loss – can be directly attributed to or aggravated by dryness.
Since new shoes have often been sitting in the box waiting for you to purchase them, they are likely to be in need of conditioning, regardless of how good they look.
A proper shine will include an initial round of conditioning with some type of leather balm.
This, coupled with the oils in a quality polish, will provide the essential moisture leather shoes need to fortify them against the hazards of wear.
A final benefit of moisturizing leather is that it helps stiff new shoes break in more readily, and who doesn’t want that?
All leather dries out over time, so we recommend conditioning and polishing your shoes regularly regardless how much use they see. Even entirely new shoes will often benefit from some tender loving care before first use.
Frequent maintenance will not only ensure best possible looks, but also greatly lengthen the lifespan of your shoes.
In addition to giving leather shoes vital conditioning, several layers of skillfully applied, high quality polish puts a protectant barrier between the surface finish of the shoes and the elements.
Crucial for hand-painted and ‘antiqued’ patinas, polishing helps finishes to “adhere” to the leather and to resist rubbing off or fading, keeping those sought after artisan finishes safely on the shoes the same way in which it keeps unwanted damage out.
*OLD STYLE IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A LOCAL COBBLER (SHOE REPAIR) THAT GIVES US GREAT DISCOUNTS THAT I PASS ON TO YOU.
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Testimonials
"Clayne is not just a shoe shiner, he is a shoe artist. The work he has done on my shoes is incredible. Everything from the shines to the hand done patina, I don't trust anyone with my shoes except Clayne".
- Matt Kristiansen - Bellevue -
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"Clayne's work is fabulous, I can recommend him without reservation. He's timely, professional and all about Customer Service. He'll baby your best shoes and give you a Presidential shine. And, he can revive that pair of shoes you never thought would see the light of day again".
- Peter Truex - Seattle -
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"Clayne is the best. He will give you amazing personal service and your shoes will look like new. You'll also learn so much about taking care of your shoes and how rotating your shoes saves your feet too"!
- Annette Dresser -
- Executive Partner with J Hilburn - Bellevue -
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"Clayne and his expanding crew have returned the craft of shining shoes to one of taking great pride in a job well done. I recommend Clayne for both individual shoe shines and for enhancing corporate or charity events".
- Jeff Pyatt -
- President - Pyatt Broadmark Management - Seattle -
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"I have hired Clayne, and he has come to my home and office to polish my shoe collection. The quality of his shine and customer service is excellent and I appreciate his punctuality. Thank you Clayne".
- Stuart Butler -
- Founder - Entrepreneur - Connector - Event Services Visionary - Seattle -
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"Look no further. Honest, ethical, hard working. The man works it and deserves all good things coming his way". -HSW.
- Howard Wright -
- Founder and CEO at Seattle Hospitality Group - (SHG) - Seattle -
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"Clayne is truly a master of his craft! Not only does he himself give outstanding shines, but his well-trained staff does an equally impressive job. I have hired Clayne & his team on numerous occasions to give shoe shines at various events I organize for work -- they never disappoint and do a phenomenal job".
- Matt Coleman -
- WA & AK State Manager - Sales at Lucas Bols B.V. -Seattle -
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"Clayne is one of the hardest working shiners in the business, always willing to take a risk and learn more about his craft. A true professional with years of experience, his desire to offer the highest level of service and quality is an inspiration to all entrepreneurs".
- Kevin Tuohy - Founder of A Shine & Co. - The Shoeshine Guild -
- San Francisco - New York City - Osaka -
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