Care Guide

You purchased a very specialized product to be used for hours in high-impact movement and contact environment. Wear and tear is totally normal and in the dance world, it garners respect.

Any parts of your tango shoes that are in constant contact with anything else (your foot, the floor, other people's shoes…) will wear, and soon. Just how soon will vary greatly depending on many factors such as materials, how are they treated, the nature of your dancing, even the bottoms of the feet vary from person to person and therefore how fast or not they create visible wear. Patent leather might never lose its pigment while metallic or printed leathers might show wear the first night.

Your shoes showing the result of blissful tandas have not failed you, nor will they. They are simply broken in, and have stories to tell.

How do I take care of my shoes?

  • There are a few things you can do to keep your dance shoes in best shape for as long as possible. The first is this: every pair of Axis Tango shoes comes with a satin shoe bag with two compartments, allowing you to store each shoe in its own section to minimize contact, friction, and abrasion.
  • And yes, you can wear your shoes with leather soles on the street or to a non-tango event, why not? The shoes in our web boutique are designed for comfort and stability and they are also suitable to wear for non-tango events. You will be the envy of the attendees there! :-) Just be aware that rough, dirty and wet surfaces will nonetheless take a heavier toll on your shoes than normal use in a milonga, so be careful. Shoes with suede soles - the majority of men's models and a few of women's styles - are not suitable for outdoor use and should be used indoors only.
  • We should also say that care guidelines are suggestions only and Axis Tango is not responsible for results that are not up to your expectations. When in doubt, it is best to take your shoes to a reputable shoe repair shop.

Soles

Shoes in our collection have leather or suede, and in case of the vegan collection, rubber outer soles. They are very durable. Still, they should be cared for and regularly maintained for best performance and longevity. Use a soft-bristle brush for the outer sole after every milonga to brush off dirt and residue. Take care not to apply too much pressure or use a brush with hard (or metal) bristles.

Metallic, laminated, snakeskin, printed leather

As with all metallic leathers, the metallic finish may be impacted by wear and abrasion. This is not a fault, it is expected behavior and the metallic finish cannot be re-applied. Such leather should not be cleaned with any liquids containing alcohol as this will damage the metallic finish. Clean the product by gently wiping with a soft damp (not wet!) cloth and drying immediately. Do not use any cleaning products.

Glitter

The glitter finish may be impacted by wear and abrasion. This is not a fault, it is expected behavior and the glitter cannot be re-applied. We advise against treating with any liquids containing alcohol as this will damage the finish. Do not use any cleaning products.

Suede

Suede is a very absorbent material and therefore marks easily. We recommend using a suede protector to keep product in good condition. A good quality soft suede brush may be used to remove loose dirt but care should be taken as excessive use and/or force can cause permanent damage.

Nappa leather

Nappa is a very soft material and shoes made from it will stretch with time and so we recommend allowance is made for this when selecting your size. Nappa is naturally very porous, and therefore creams and moisturizing agents should be avoided as these may leave watermarks which are very difficult to remove.

Patent leather

Patent leather is made from leather finished with a mixture of acrylic and polyurethane which gives a longer lasting, durable finish. Dirt adhering to patent can be easily removed with a damp (not wet!) cloth. With wear, patent leather may eventually lose its glossy finish. Patent will easily absorb pigments so it is advisable that products are kept in a dust bag when not in use. Care should be taken to avoid contact with alcohol or any type of solvent.

Satin

Satin easily absorbs moisture and can stain. Dirt adhering to satin can be removed with a soft cloth or a soft brush. It is best you don't use any liquid or moisture while cleaning satin fabric.

Man-made materials

Treat man-made materials as you would natural leather or fabric. Man-made materials and finishes may be impacted by wear and abrasion. This is not a fault and should be expected. Care should be taken to avoid contact with solvents or alcohol. Use soft cloth or a soft brush to remove dirt and residue.