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We’ve hand picked some of the best footwear from global designers to ensure total comfort and style. Our unparalleled collections feature thousands of styles across dozens of brands.
From campsite to boardroom, our Men’s collections are designed to keep you comfortably on the move… and always up-to-date on the latest styles.
Kunitz family has been fitting children's footwear since 1981. Our collections draw from our generational knowledge of children's footwear needs, with a focus on the latest technologies and newest trends.
From the sturdy buffalo hide leathers of Adrian Klis, to the soft and itch free merino wool blend of Smartwool, we've got the perfect selection of handbags, wallets, socks, and apparel for yourself... or as the perfect gift for friends & family!
Before going any further, it's always good to know what materials were used to make your footwear, before you begin caring for the shoes. Here is a handy guide to the most common materials used and their symbols (often found on the inside tag of the shoes).
Like most cleaning in life, a little can go a long way if done consistently and is a great way to prolong the life of your shoes. With a tiny bit of upkeep and some preventative maintenance, most high quality shoes should see many years of wear.
Smooth Leather: Dry brush with a horse hair brush or cloth to remove debris. Then using a soft cloth and warm water (or leather cleaning product), test clean a small patch on the heel of the shoe and let it dry completely. If it dries without issue (no color run or other obvious issues), continue cleaning the rest of the shoe in this manner and let it dry completely (overnight). Once dry, apply a leather creme or conditioner to the leather evenly and let dry for a few minutes before brushing with the horse hair brush to even out the finish. Here you can either waterproof the leather using sprays or other waterproofing products, or move on to the polishing stage if desired.
Suede/Nubuck: Similar to cleaning a smooth leather, however, only use cleaning products designed for suede/nubuck, as heavier creams and conditioners can negatively affect the finish of the upper. When in doubt, try cleaning a small test patch first, let completely dry, and then go from there. Suede erasers or suede brushes can be extremely helpful here as they help to maintain the proper “nap” that gives suede/nubuck its signature look, and can work out any dirt and debris embedded in the finish. For waterproofing, you should only use spray or other light impact waterproofing designed for suede/nubuck, to avoid affecting the natural finish. Similarly, use polishes specifically designed for suede/nubuck to avoid finishing issues.
Synthetic: A damp cloth and some mild soap should be all that’s needed, but some basic all purpose cleaner (designed for leather AND synthetic) should make things a bit easier. The soft rubber bristles of a suede brush or the more abrasive wire bristles can also help with stubborn grime. Waterproofing should be tested on a small patch and left to dry overnight to ensure there is no discoloration, before proceeding to treat the rest of the shoe.
Outsoles: The rubber and metal bristles of a suede brush can help tremendously here as well. All purpose cleaner or some basic hot water and soap should do the trick. For really stubborn scuffs/stains on WHITE outsoles, a magic eraser can make a big difference, though keep away from the uppers.
There are a ton of different polishes out there depending on your desired color, shine, and finish, so we can't quite cover them all here. However, if you bring your shoes in store we can often find the best polish to match your needs, or provide further recommendations. There are 3 basic types of polishes that have their own pros and cons:
Wax : These are your more traditional hard polishes, often coming in a thin round tin, with Kiwi being a prime example. These can be worked to the highest shine and cover nicks and scuffs best, but also require a bit of time investment to achieve the desired finish.
Creme : Creme polishes offer the widest range of color options to choose from and provide more substantial coverage compared to a liquid polish, without the added work needed for a wax polish. Creme polishes go on quick and easy with a soft cloth or provided sponge, and can be buffed or shined to a fairly shiny finish (though not as glossy as wax). These are often the best polishes for returning a shoe to a comparable “out of the box” finish.
Liquid : These polishes tend to be in a tube with a sponge applicator on the end, or in infused “quick shine” polish brushes. Liquid polish tends to go on quick and easy, but also provides the thinnest layer of polish and will not last as long. Great for quick touch ups, but not a long term polish.
The most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with shoe odour is that it’s produced by bacteria within your shoe, so no more bacteria, no more smell! Bacteria love a warm damp environment, so letting your shoes air out and dry properly after wear can help reduce the amount of bacteria in the first place. Shoe trees made from cedar or other antibacterial materials can also help to draw out moisture and reduce odours while maintaining the shape of your shoes.
For existing odours, an often useful solution is to spray the inside of the shoes with an isopropyl alcohol mix or similar spray that can kill the smell causing bacteria (great over the counter options are available). Once the shoes have had a chance to fully dry and air out, give the lining and insole a good clean and hopefully the smell should be neutralized or greatly reduced. Just be careful with the spray to avoid the uppers or leathers, as it can dry out leather and sometimes cause colors to run. This is a tried and true method used by sneaker-heads and bowling alleys alike, and can provide fairly consistent results.
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