How to fix your uncomfortable favorite vegan leather sandals

Sometimes I buy inexpensive shoes not only for the price but also for many other reasons. This time, I was looking for a pair of comfortable thong sandals. I also wanted the sandals to have three-inch heels–not too low but not too high for walking.

I looked everywhere for such a pair including Fifth Avenue European boutiques. However, none of them beat this pair. These sandals were on sale at a store in Herald Square for only $18. The price was great and the heel height was perfect.

Also, the ultrasuede lining of this pair’s inner sole is very soft and comfortable. These shoes also have comfy cushion right at the ball of foot. That’s very thoughtful of them. Below are some of the other reasons why I love this pair–the advantages that can be found exclusive in inexpensive shoes.

Made with vegan leather

Yes, they are made of fake leather, I mean, vegan leather. Synthetic leather is called vegan leather nowadays just because they are not made with animal skin, and it sounds cooler. Vegan leather does not mean they are ethical or sustainable. Vegan leather is made with chemicals, and it could produce pollution if not handled with careful production. However, vegan leather is definitely more humane than real leather. Therefore, we don’t know which is better–vegan leather or real leather. We could discuss this all day.

Light-weight sandals

These sandals are extremely light weight so they don’t tire my feet easily. It’s often difficult to find light-weight sandals, especially a platform pair like this one, at high-end boutiques. Is it because cheap materials are lighter? No metal or leather could mean no durability but that’s fine. These pair may only last for one season. And these are white sandals. Whether they are made with expensive material or not, it’s hard to keep white shoes white anyway.

But almost no pair of shoes are perfectly comfortable

These vegan leather shoes are very comfortable because they aren’t tight against any part of my feet, and they have the perfect heel height, and they are light weight!

However, there was one part that these sandals weren’t comfortable for me. The non-porous fake leather lining was uncomfortable against my skin. I got a red rash after wearing them just for an hour. It would be very disappointing to discard these sandals because of this one issue while all the other things about these sandals were perfect. Therefore, I decided to fix the issue myself.

Fixing the uncomfortable vegan leather issue

If you have a pair of shoes with the same issue, you may want to consider fixing them yourself following the below steps.

To fix the uncomfortable faux leather inner soles, first you will need a piece of tightly woven cotton fabric. For these sandals, I used cotton twill tape because it’s easier to use for the narrow thong design.

When you buy cotton twill tape from a store, you may want to make sure that it’s 100% cotton. If it’s not prepacked, sometimes there’s no way to tell, and a shop clerk may not be sure if their product is 100% cotton. So, when you go home, burn a little bit of the twill tape with a lighter to check if it’s really cotton. If it’s pure cotton, the burnt part will turn into black powder-like ash. If it’s not cotton, it will melt and it won’t break into powder. Both of these reactions can be seen in cotton blended with other chemicals.

The reason why you should have 100% cotton is that the issue may not be resolved with synthetic twill tape if you have sensitive skin. In other words, the situation may continue because of the synthetic tape. Also, 100% cotton twill tape can be used for many other purposes such as tailoring.

Next, cut the twill tape a little bit longer than the length of the thong measured from the side of the foot to the front. Then place it over the inner faux leather lining and cut the edge diagonally, approximately the same degree to the side leather, to fit the edge. Insert the tape into the edge of the thong.

Start stitching along the edge of the leather. It should be small stitches right on top of the original stitch at front, but you may skip a few stitches from the inside.

Cut the excess twill tape 1/4 inch longer than the actual length of the thong, and insert that extra 1/4 into the hole on the sole.

Repeat these steps to cover the lower part of the inner faux leather, and do the same to the other side of the shoe as well. Below is how the finished sandal looks like. It’s hard to see in the photo but there’s another stitch line right in between the upper twill tape and the lower twill tape. It’s an ‘invisible stitch’ to connect and close the two pieces of twill tape.

Faux leather can be as stiff as real leather, so please be careful not to poke your fingers. I usually use my nail to push the needle through leather and faux leather, but it’s definitely not recommended for beginners. Please have your thimble ready for the hardest part of the leather. Below is an example of how a twill tape is stitched onto the inside of shoes.

Explore your creativity

If these were expensive shoes from a high-end boutique, I wouldn’t have been able to modify any part of them, thinking that they are pieces of art. In contrast, I’m not hesitant at all to alter an inexpensive pair of shoes like these. When I first started sewing, I often found cheap new or vintage clothes with imperfections and made changes to them.

When you don’t love an item completely, it tests your potential creativity. Buying a pair of inexpensive sandals do just the same.

Now I can walk in these sandals for hours with no problem! They don’t irritate my skin anymore, and I love them! 🙂 I’m going to enjoy the rest of the summer now!