No matter what you do, your sneakers will eventually take on some damage. That doesn't mean you have to throw them out, though.
When your customs start to fall apart, a little TLC can get them back to like-new condition.
To help show you how to restore your customs, Vesna (@v.lmuth) stopped by the Angelus studio to walk you through the restoration of an old pair of Air Jordan "Tour Yellow" 4s.
Keep reading to see how you can restore your worn-out customs.
First, you want to start by using Angelus Shoe Trees to decrease the toe box on your customs. This will also help the shoe keep its shape while you work on it.
After you get the shoe trees in, use the Angelus Easy Cleaner Kit to clean your shoes to get rid of any excess dirt and oil. Easy Cleaner is safe to use on any material, including leather, suede, and more.
Next, you need to prepare your shoe to be glued. Use a heat gun or a blow dryer to heat the glue, then use a cotton applicator and acetone to remove the glue.
Be careful to not get the acetone anywhere else on the shoe as it can damage certain materials like leather or suede.
Take your time to make sure you remove all of the old glue to make sure that the sole adheres to the shoe once you apply a new layer of glue.
Before you re-glue the sole, you want to use masking tape to protect your shoe's upper.
Once the tape is in place, use clear shoe cement on the bottom of the upper, midsole, and outsole. Start with a thin layer of glue, wait about 15 to 20 minutes, then apply a second coat.
After you apply the second layer, wait about 30 minutes, use your heat gun to heat up the glue, then clamp the soles together.
After you finish re-gluing your sneakers, you're going to want to get rid of the creases on the toe box.
Just take out the insoles and insert a decreaser to easily restore the toe box to like-new condition.
Before moving on, you can apply some Angelus Mink Oil to the leather and suede surfaces on your shoes.
This will help protect your customs against water and other damage.
To restore the color of the soles, use Angelus Sole Bright to reverse the oxidation of your soles and bring back their original color.
Apply a thin layer of the Sole Bright to the soles, cover them up in some clear plastic, and leave the shoes out in the sun for one to six hours. Repeat if necessary.
For a more detailed walkthrough and to learn how to repaint your sneakers, check out the full video on our YouTube channel. Also, be sure to check out some of our other great tutorials made by other artists like Vesna.