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Do shoes become wider or narrower through wearing? Through foot warmth and foot moisture the upper leather stretches about 2 to 3 percent, and shrinks back to its original size after a drying time of about 8 hours. Shoes shrinking is almost impossible as the leather fibres are stretched through the lasting (process of pulling the upper over the lasts). Handmade shoes have stiffening strips or so-called side - linings along the inner and outer side between the upper leather and the lining. These prevent the upper part infringing the sole on the sides. Important for maintaining the form is a shoe stretcher with exactly the same form as the last, thereby not over stretching the shoe, but filling it completely. The shoe tree is put in immediately after wearing and remains in the shoe until it is worn again, at the earliest 24 hours later. Additional stretching Good shoemakers have no stretching machine, as seen on display in shoe service shops. Additional widening of shoes is only possible to a very limited extent. In order to do this, the shoe is softened in water for 2 to 3 hours and then the last pushed carefully back into the shoe. The last is given a leather layer on the pressure spot beforehand. The fact that this layer has to have a certain thickness is self-evident. After the preparation of the last, the shoe must dry for 5 to 7 days. |
