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I went shopping today for a pair of plain canvas or suede sneakers that would go with-or at least avoid clashing with most of my clothes. After wading through countless pairs of sneakers that had engorged tongues, two inch platforms, or trashy multicolored designs that would only go with a zebra striped
unitard or a tie die shirt, I finally found some plain white Nikes with a red swoosh on the side for $90 I tried them out of desperation, but alas, they were too bright a white to go with any of my clothes.
Sneakers should be made the way they make well worn Antique-style jeans; they should be soft like they have been worn for a few months, bright colors should be slightly faded and perhaps with some grey and light green dyes added in others to replicate the wear that dust and light grass stains leave. The shoes should be dull enough that they almost blend into the concrete and should have a classic style that wont look hideous and dated in 3 months.
And yes I could just buy a pair of overpriced "classic" Nikes and take them on long walks until my feet are blisterd and bloody but why should I?
antiqued jeans
http://www.oldnavy....d=10010&wpid=159570
just in case nobody knows what im rambling over. [bobofthefuture, Jun 22 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Dharma Trading Co. Homepage
http://www.dharmatrading.com/
"Since 1969 Dharma has been providing Textile Crafts Supplies and Clothing Blanks to Artists, Craftspersons & Industry with Fast, Friendly Service at Fair Prices." [phoenix, Jun 23 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Hand Dyeing - How to Do It
http://www.flash.ne...yeing/howtodye.html
[phoenix, Jun 23 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Multi-Purpose Dylon Dye
http://www.singerma...cessories/dylon.htm
[phoenix, Jun 23 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Fabric and Textile Dyes
http://www.dickblic...s/fabricdecoration/
[phoenix, Jun 23 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Chuck Taylors
http://www.converse...catid=2&zsubcatid=4
The "regular" white (as opposed to "optical") is still very available. [cswiii, Oct 05 2004]
Nike...No Sweat
http://store.global...ge.org/nosweat.html
[Micky Dread, Oct 05 2004]
Hand Dyeing - How to Do It
http://www.pburch.n...eing/howtodye.shtml
(new location for link given above by phoenix) [pburch, Oct 05 2004]
[link]
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I have two personal problems with this idea. First, if my shoes look worn in, people are less likely to utter "Oooh, new shoes!" Secondly, the thought of wearing shoes that have had someone elses feet sweating in them for three months makes me queasy. |
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I was shopping in an unnamed discount store recently when I saw denim purses that were made to look like they were well-used. However, they were so yellow that they looked more like a dog took a piss all over them. Hopefully the "wearing out" process for your shoes doesn't include canine piss. |
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Oh no, I didnt mean they should be worn by someone else, I think insoles begin to slowly conform to a persons foot and it might actually be bad for you to wear shoes someone else has trodded around in. I merely meant they should be constructed out of canvas or suede with slight wear, or worn down slightly by machines after constuction. |
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You could tie a new pair to the back of your car or taxi and drag them for a few blocks. |
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In any case, ever hear of dye? (links) |
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Yes Phoenix. I have heard rumors of this revolutionary "dye" product you speak of, and that some say though sorcery of some kind it can alter the colors of things. However, should it even exist I doubt this dye technology will be available to people outside of NASA any time soon. |
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And even if it were readily available, that is only a portion of my idea. I also sugested shoes be made of softer, well-worn materials, and a new concept in the shoe world of not making flashy eyesores that dont go with anything. |
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Croissant from me, bobotf. I find that trainers, particularly, look weird until they're slightly worn/faded/scuffed. |
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Croissant from me as well. What I'd really like, though, would be a service that would take a mould of my feet and break in my new pair of Doc Marten's using that model, so when I get them back they conform to my feet and don't give me blisters. |
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I only recommend the dye because custom-made shoes (even those using soft leather) are Baked. I would suppose custom-colored shoes are as well. It's really just a matter of how much money you're willing to spend. |
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A moment of silence for the discontinued white/unbleached white canvas Chuck Talyors.....sigh. |
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Top-siders are wonderful things. |
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phoe... I can't see how dye would help here. I get the impression that bobofthe... is after the look one gets after having worn the shoes for three weeks or so. It's not a coloration issue, more of a wear & tear thing, with some dirt thrown in. |
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I used to accomplish this by wearing the new whites in deep mud and getting them good and wet and dirty, then chucking them in the washer. |
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why don't I believe that? |
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According to the converse.com website, [Graciem], it seems as if the standard-issue white chucks are still available. They differentiate between the regular and "bright" white shoe. |
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For what it's worth, there are several other off-white shoes, elsewhere on that site. |
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I'm sure Nike would just love to sell expensive pre-faded, worn in non descript sneakers, I mean they would still only have to pay the Cambodian sweat shop workers $2.00 a day wouldn't they.... |
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You could give the Cambodians the shoes for a few weeks to wear them in for you and then take em back for resale as non descript sneakers, that would be a lot fairer...not |
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Go to the DAV or Salvation Army. I know thay have second hand shoes there, if your concerned about them being broken in by someone else, just replace the insoles, and wear them while taking a hot shower, this would shrink/stretch them to your feet with out all the walking arround. Wear 2 pair of socks if you do this.
For the record, its how I brake in new boots, I seldom wear shoes. |
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Dyeing cotton canvas shoes is easy. You're not stuck with solid colors, you can do any sort of color mixture. The results look great, if you use the right type of dye (e.g., Procion MX type dye), because the white doesn't dye at all, and you can get any color, from subtle to brilliant. |
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The last pair of trainers I bought were exactly like that.
Soft, well-worn leather with a distressed white finish. AND
they were new. The finish was white, but as it was
distressed, the natural leather colour softened it. The
best bit? The sole was, of course, pristine. Three months
in and I have to show people the sole of my trainers to
prove how old they are. "Stig of the Dump", they call me
on casual Friday. |
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[Chaos] - wouldn't the water damage the leather? |
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