Feb11

Looking for School Shoes? Why Real Leather is a Must

by Toughees on February 11th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Posted In: Shoes
My parents always said, you get what you pay for. While being cost conscious is a good thing, there are certain products you simply shoul not ‘skimp’ on. School shoes are one of those products. There are certainly options out there, but beware of the low- price lure of shoes made of synthetic material.
With the amount of time your child spends in them, and the level of activity they are put through, your child’s school shoes need to be a quality leather product for many reasons. But first, let us have a quick take on leather itself.
What is leather
Leather is defined by Wikipedia as a durable, flexible material created by tanning animal hide and skin. It is often sanded and buffed to remove imperfections. The tanning process used to create leather converts the protein of the hide or skin into a stable material.
Why it’s better
  • Durability: Leather is a strong material that, when properly cared for, lasts longer, and is stronger. Shoes made from synthetic material can crack.
  • Flexibility: Because leather is basically an organic, soft material, it stretches better and more naturally. This flexibility means fewer pressure points on your child’s feet, which can create sore spots. If your child’s foot is snug in a synthetic shoe, it will simply push against the shoe until they wear out or crack, often causing pain. Unlike what a salesman may tell you, the synthetic leather material will not stretch.
  • Breatheability: Let us face it, those little feet can sweat. If the shoes do not breathe, not only can the shoes develop an odour, but the foot can swell. Unlike synthetics, leather breathes and can