Statement from Hullachan:
In all shoes there is a finite lifespan to the shoes durability. Unlike ordinary shoes which may last a long time, a dancer sometimes goes to classes two or three times a week and dances every weekend at competitions. The shoes are going to get a lot of punishment. Now on one hand we can make a shoe that will be durable but to do that the shoe could well be stiffer, thicker and less flexible. What we have to do is find the starting place where a dancer is able to use their shoes to the best of the shoes ability.

What happens to a shoe

Problem	Solution
Wet Shoes: In a normal class, a dancer can exude up to a quarter cup of sweat (or indeed more) into their shoes. That means that the leather and components are soaking. Many times the dancer throws the shoes into a bag and only sees them the next class. That will deteriorate the fine leather and stitching of the shoes.	The shoes must be dried normally-that is not on a heater or with a hair dryer but in normal room condition air temperature or in an airing cupboard.
Maintenance part 1-Feeding: After wearing a soft leather shoe, this shoe will need some feeding. Otherwise the leather will dry out after being wet and then dry and then wet again. The leather could start to break down quickly.	To avoid this leather deterioration use a good quality shoe cream. Apply this once a week after you have dried your shoes. Apply after a competition and after the shoes have dried. You can also get leather food. Apply and let the food absorb into the shoes and then buff off. Read the instructions on the pack.
Maintenance part 2 Stitching: Dance can be very abrasive on the sole of the shoes. We can not use stiff leather suede as the dancer would not be able to flex their arch and feet. We use a thickness of leather that we both stick and stitch onto the upper. After wear, and unless treated, this stitching may very well wear. The sole can be caught on the edge of a floor, or damaged if worn off a dance floor. Few dancers are aware that carpet with a nylon element can be extremely abrasive and that can wear away outdoor shoe soles. So if you practice on a carpet please be aware that this could damage your shoes.	To increase the lifespan of your stitching. The best way is to get a small block of beeswax. Most shops or stores selling Arts and crafts, haberdashery, sewing kit, hardware stores etc will sell beeswax. Rub a little into the stitching where it comes into contact with the floor. This will need to be done every week and after every competition.
Soles coming away: After some wear, the sole of a dance shoe could well come away. If you have been dancing on different floors, carpets and other surfaces, caught the edge of the sole on something while dancing or walking in a venue, then a sole may come away. It can happen after 2 weeks, 4 weeks or six months. It all depends on the individual situation.	The solution is to simply re-stick the sole back down. Do not use a superglue type of product as that hardens the materials and can cause the material not to be flexible. The best way is to use a bonding adhesive which is applied to both surfaces, allowed to dry to a slight tackiness and then pressed together. It should not be pressed together when wet. Read the instructions. There are many brands in different parts of the world.
CONTACT ADHESIVE: Contact adhesive is one which must be applied to both surfaces and allowed some time to dry before the two surfaces are pushed together. Some contact adhesives require a longer drying time than others. Once the surfaces are pushed together, the bond forms very quickly and it is, in most cases, not necessary to apply pressure for a long time. This means that there is no need to use mechanical devices such as clamps and that it is a repair easily done by any dancer. Contact brands include: Bostik, (or some places Bostix) Evo-Stik, Amazing Goop, Masters Contact Cement, Tanners Bond Contact Cement, and many more in different names. Just ask for a contact adhesive for bonding leather.

What this means is that we need to make a shoes that is suitable for the new athlete dancers, or sport dancer. Indeed these are sports; the dancer practises and then competes. The more athletic nature of the dance can be very hard on the shoe itself.

This is why we work out the minimum life span of a shoe to be 4 weeks normal wear and tear.

Of course the shoe may well last much longer but we can not infinitely guarantee a shoe for longer than this as this is the period that non novice dancers could possibly wear out their shoes. However we have had dancers wearing our shoes for up to a year but the problem there is that after three or four months the shoe can not possibly support the foot in the way that the shoe did when new. Most dancers understand that they will change their shoes every three months. The only way to make your shoes last longer is to wear two pairs of shoes and alternate them.

If you have any issues with your Hullachans or would like advice on aftercare please contact me, Craig Coussins

craig.coussins@btinternet.com