NOTHING MADE WELL IS DISPOSABLE

ON SNEAKER RESTORATION, THE RESOLE SERVICE, AND WHY THE BEST SNEAKERS ARE BUILT WITH A SECOND LIFE IN MIND

THE SOLE WEARS OUT FIRST. THIS IS NOT A FAILURE OF THE SHOE. IT IS THE CORRECT FUNCTION OF THE SOLE. THE PART OF THE OBJECT DESIGNED TO ABSORB CONTACT WITH THE WORLD ABSORBS IT, OVER THOUSANDS OF MILES, AND EVENTUALLY REACHES THE LIMIT OF ITS CAPACITY. THIS IS EXPECTED. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS THE TEST.

IN MOST SHOES, NOTHING HAPPENS NEXT. THE SOLE WEARS THROUGH AND THE SHOE IS FINISHED. THE UPPER, THE LEATHER, THE INSOLE SHAPED BY YEARS OF WEAR TO THE SPECIFIC ARCHITECTURE OF ONE PERSON'S FOOT, ALL OF IT DISCARDED BECAUSE THE ONE COMPONENT DESIGNED TO WEAR OUT HAS DONE SO. THIS IS NOT AN INEVITABLE OUTCOME. IT IS A DESIGN CHOICE.

WHAT A RESOLE SERVICE MEANS

A MAKER WHO OFFERS TO RESOLE THEIR SHOES MADE A PRIOR DECISION BEFORE THE RESOLE WAS EVER REQUESTED. THEY BUILT THE SHOE TO BE WORTH RESOLING. THE RESOLE SERVICE IS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. IT IS THE PROOF THAT THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DECISION WAS MADE WITH THE LONG TERM IN MIND.

THE SNEAKER RESTORATION PROCESS BEGINS WHERE THE SHOE'S FIRST LIFE ENDS. THE WORN SOLE IS REMOVED. THE UPPER IS ASSESSED. ANY STRUCTURAL REPAIRS REQUIRED TO THE INSOLE AND THE LASTING ARE MADE. A NEW SOLE IS FITTED. THE SHOE IS FINISHED TO THE STANDARD OF A NEW PAIR. THE RESULT IS NOT A REPAIRED SHOE. IT IS A SHOE THAT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ITS BEGINNING.

WHAT THE SECOND LIFE REVEALS

A RESOLED PAIR OF HANDMADE SNEAKERS CARRIES SOMETHING A NEW PAIR DOES NOT. THE LEATHER UPPER HAS BEEN WORN IN. THE INSOLE HAS ADAPTED. THE SHOE KNOWS THE FOOT. LEATHER THAT HAS BEEN WORN CORRECTLY, MAINTAINED CORRECTLY, RESOLED AT THE RIGHT MOMENT, IS IN MANY WAYS SUPERIOR TO NEW LEATHER. IT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE PERIOD OF BREAK-IN. IT HAS DEVELOPED THE SUPPLENESS AND THE FIT THAT ONLY COMES FROM SUSTAINED WEAR.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CALCULATION

THE COST OF A RESOLE SERVICE IS A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A NEW PAIR. THE UPPER, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE VALUE AND THE LABOUR, IS PRESERVED. NO NEW LEATHER REQUIRED. NO NEW MANUFACTURING. NO DISPOSAL OF A PRODUCT THAT WAS BUILT TO LAST BUT DISCARDED BEFORE ITS TIME.

NOTHING MADE WELL SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY. THE RESOLE SERVICE EXISTS BECAUSE THE SHOES WERE BUILT TO DESERVE ONE. 1812 ENGLAND OFFERS A RESOLE SERVICE FOR EVERY PAIR. THE SHOE IS MADE FOR THE LONG TERM.