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 dance 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 LaDucas. 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 LaDucas, 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, tights. or nylon peds 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. We also recommend when you get home take your shoes and/or boots out of your bag and let them air out 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.
The best way to break in your shoes is to just wear them. Any kind of manual manipulation could permanetly damage the shoes and cause tears. We do not recommend putting your shoes or boots on and forcing your foot over the toe.
Tap Shoes
Our tap shoes are made with fine metal alloy to create the cleanest sound possible. When the taps are applied to the shoes, our professional cobbler scuffs the toe taps on the soles in order to prevent slipping. If for any reason the taps get any kind of residue, you can use rubbing alcohol to clean only the taps. Do not get alcohol on the shoes.
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!
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.
