Shoes that transfer colour
Download PDFDo new shoes or sandals transfer colour onto stockings or skin? This occurs mainly with dark colours and is usually a defect, not something inevitable. This article explains what to do.
Why does the colour transfer?
Shoes and sandals occasionally transfer colour onto the clothing underneath or the skin. This is usually caused by inadequate dye fixation during tanning and sometimes also by more environmentally friendly but less stable dyes.
IMPORTANT:
A small amount of colour transfer from new shoes is normal and diminishes by itself over time. Heavy, persistent staining, however, is a clear defect and not a normal condition that you have to accept.
Do not let yourself be fobbed off
Statements such as “It will go away over time” or “That is normal” are often merely excuses. Shoes should not and must not transfer colour. If the staining is pronounced, you should return the shoes to the shop. In difficult cases, a consumer protection organisation or legal expenses insurer may be able to help. When buying abroad or at markets and bazaars, making a complaint is of course difficult or impossible. A rub test can often help with the purchasing decision in such cases. If the shoe transfers too much colour, leave it alone.
If returning the shoes is not possible
If you cannot or do not wish to return the shoes, the last option is to treat the surface afterwards with Colourlock Leather Fixative. It subsequently fixes dyes that are not sufficiently bonded. Complete success cannot be guaranteed, but in many cases the problem improves significantly.
Recommended products
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Treat shoes that transfer colour
- Leather Fixative
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