BEST FOOT FORWARD

Shoe Care Tips to Keep Your Pair Perfect

Onitsuka Tiger shoes are an investment. Premium materials, innovative technology and a legacy built on Japanese craftmanship have positioned the brand as a leader in the luxury footwear market. Worn everywhere from festivals to fashion shows, the right pair of trainers can complete your look and stay with you as switch up your style. You just need to make sure they're fit for purpose as you explore new facets of your individual aesthetic. As trainers have solidified their place on the front row of high fashion, it's become more important than ever to know how to properly maintain and care for your favorite pair. Here, we round up the best tips for trainer maintenance, and which materials make for the most durable pairs.

SHOE CARE TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

When it comes to maintaining your shoes, you need to think:

  • Storage
  • Early prep and prevention
  • Understanding what you can and can't use with your shoe

Let's go into a bit more detail.

Prevent damage from the start – The best way to maintain a new look to your trainers is to tackle scuffs and creases from day one. Shoe trees are often used to keep the shape of special occasion shoes, but you can also take this same care with your everyday trainers. Alternatively, keeping your trainers in the box that they came in can prevent any risk of scuffs or stains. Clean your laces –

Cleaning laces regularly can make a huge difference to the appearance of your trainers. The easiest way to do this is to soak them in a bowl of warm water with washing detergent, rinse, then leave to dry.

Alternate your shoes – As much as you might want to wear your trainers every day, rotating them around with your other favourite trainers will keep them looking brand new for longer.

Avoid washing machines – Using your washing machine to clean your trainers might seem like a quick fix but, it can cause more harm than good. Washing machines can loosen the glue in your trainers and damage the materials. Depending on the fabric of your shoes, you can use a toothbrush and soap to scrub away any marks.

HOW FOOTWEAR CARE & TRAINER CLEANING BECAME AN INDUSTRY

Embraced by high-fashion brands and streetwear disrupters, the humble trainer is now a luxury. In the last year alone, the value of the sneakers market worldwide has grown by almost £5.6 million. With more people taking pride in their stride, there has been a growth in businesses monetising from the world's growing trainer collections. The resell market is now estimated to be worth £777 million, with trainer cleaning and care services boosting in popularity too. Sprays, wipes, shields and more are available to keep trainers looking and feeling fresh, but these can be expensive. So, if you're new to the sneaker game or a veteran sneaker head, we've listed some of our most durable trainers here at Onitsuka Tiger.

DURABLE TRAINERS: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

As well as spending more time and attention maintaining trainers, there are also certain models that are designed to last. Onitsuka Tiger, built on the foundation of combining wearability with durability, understands how to make a trainer that refuses to compromise its style for its stability. Offering a selection of long-lasting trainers designed for the modern person, sneakers like the Mexico 66 SD are built for urban living. The premium leather of the upper helps the trainer survive city streets, rush hour commutes and after-work adventures, all while maintaining an unmistakeable touch of luxury.

The Mexico 66 Nylon Series is another trainer optimised for durability. Inspired from Onitsuka Tiger's legacy, the trainers are a nod to the first nylon sports shoes launched by Onitsuka Tiger back in 1954. Mr Onitsuka understood that nylon had many performance advantages, such as their resilience and lightweight nature.

For cycling enthusiasts, the California 78 MP shoe is an essential addition to your collection. Based on Onitsuka Tiger's sleek and high-performance California 78 EX jogging trainer, this new style combines durable and reflective materials with water resistant technology, for the ultimate companion to cycle with.

The TIGER GRACIA is a style inspired by Onitsuka Tiger's archive wrestling shoes. Not only does this style have a unique design, the leather body and heels of the shoe contain scratch prevention rubber, for extra peace of mind.

Caring and maintaining trainers can time consuming but the results are more than worth it. We hope this handy guide helps to keep your trainers in almost perfect condition for years to come. If you're looking to grow your collection, Onitsuka Tiger have a wide selection of designs to suit your individual style.