We pour countless hours of passion and precision into perfecting every detail and design of our dance shoes and boots, ensuring each pair moves with you as seamlessly as possible. It’s crucial to care for your first, second, and even third pairs to keep them performing at their best. Luckily, we’ve got a few insider tips to help your shoes and boots dancing with you for longer.
Leather
Over time, even the most carefully maintained leather will show some signs of wear. However, there are ways to keep your LaDuca shoes and boots looking their best.
Our Italian leather is the perfect blend of velvety softness and durability, making it ideal for our light, comfortable, and supportive dance shoes and boots. Its fine grain provides the perfect fit as our shoes and boots gently mold to your feet with each wear. Keep in mind that this leather can stretch over time in width, so it's important to carefully consider the right size when selecting your shoes.
Most importantly, never use harsh chemicals, alcohol, or strong cleaning products on your LaDuca's. They’re designed to perform at their best, and those products will only cause damage. Keep it gentle, and your shoes will thank you!
Shoes and Boots
To ensure the longest lasting wear from your new LaDuca’s, it is recommended that you always untie and loosen the laces of your boots, and unbuckle your shoes before putting them on or removing them. This simple step helps extend the life of the elastic and back heel. When taking them off, do not push your boot or shoe with the heel of the other foot; always take them off with your hands, holding the heel cup – never pulling from the heel!
Additionally, wearing nylons or socks with your shoes is advised, as perspiration can distort the leather. If you choose not to wear them, be sure to wipe the inside of the shoes after each use, as the salt from your skin can break down the leather and elastics, shortening their lifespan. During summer periods, we recommend that you keep kitchen paper in your bag to stuff the toe box after class; remove the paper when you get home, and air your boots overnight.
Ensure you are breaking in your LaDuca Shoes and Boots carefully; your shoes are made with natural materials that need the warmth of your body to become more flexible. Wearing your LaDuca’s to class too soon can compromise the integrity of the leathers.
Tap Shoes
Taps should be applied just beyond the toe of the sole to protect the leather toe area when performing toe taps or clicks.
Ensure that the half-rubber is thick enough to sit flush with the tap, so that both the tap and rubber are level. This helps prevent the shoe from sagging in the middle.
Additionally, leave a small gap between the toe tap and the half-rubber to allow for a clear, unobstructed sound from the tap.
Suede Soles
Your suede soles play a crucial role in your performance, so it's important to treat them with the same care. Start by removing any loose dirt using a soft fibre brush. Don’t let dirt linger on your soles for too long, as it can become harder to remove over time, affecting your grip and performance on the floor.
Occasionally, you might want to use a gentle brass brush to remove the dirt and restore the texture of the suede. Keep them clean, and your shoes will support you in every step, spin, and jump!
Over time, the demands of today's dance choreography may cause the suede soles of your shoes to begin peeling. We recommend keeping a small bottle of leather glue on hand to easily reattach the suede when needed.
Storage
We highly recommend storing your LaDuca shoes and boots in a shoe bag to keep them protected and preserve the quality of the soft leather, ensuring they stay in top shape for every performance.
To prevent any damage, ensure that the heels face away from each other, keeping the leather from scratching.
In the event of any minor scrapes, use leather glue to prevent further damage and keep your shoes in top condition.
