Alright, let’s talk about these Women’s Canvas Pacers I finally got around to messing with. Been meaning to for ages, just kept putting it off. You know how it goes.
First things first: unboxing. Nothing too exciting, just the shoes in a box. Gave ’em a quick once-over, checking for any obvious defects. Seemed good to go.
Next up: getting a feel for the canvas. It felt a bit stiff right out of the box, which I expected. Started thinking about how I wanted to soften them up and maybe distress them a bit. That’s the whole point, right?
Then I decided to start with some basic cleaning. Even though they were new, I wanted to get rid of any factory gunk or whatever. Just a damp cloth and some mild soap. Nothing too harsh. Wiped ’em down inside and out. Let them air dry for a bit.
Okay, time for the fun part: distressing! I grabbed some sandpaper – medium grit – and went to town on the edges and seams. Wanted to give them that worn-in look. I didn’t go too crazy, just enough to scuff ’em up a bit. Also hit the rubber soles lightly to take off that brand-new shine.
After sanding, I wanted to add some color. I had some fabric dye lying around – a nice, muted blue. Figured it would look cool. I diluted the dye with water to get a lighter shade. Then, using a sponge, I dabbed the dye onto the canvas in random spots. Just wanted a subtle, tie-dye effect.
Let the dye dry completely. This took a few hours. Once they were dry, I rinsed them with cold water to get rid of any excess dye. Then, I stuffed them with paper towels to help them keep their shape while they dried again.
Once dry, I realized they needed something else. They still looked a little too… clean. So, I grabbed some brown shoe polish and rubbed it into the canvas, focusing on the distressed areas. This added some depth and made them look even more worn.
Finally, I swapped out the laces. The original laces were fine, but I wanted something different. I found some thick, waxed cotton laces in a dark brown color. They looked perfect!
And that’s pretty much it. The Women’s Canvas Pacers are now looking way more like my style – worn, a bit rough around the edges, and totally unique. I’m actually pretty happy with how they turned out. Thinking about doing another pair soon, maybe with a different color dye this time.
So, bottom line: a bit of sanding, some fabric dye, shoe polish, and new laces can totally transform a pair of plain canvas shoes. Give it a try! You might be surprised at what you can create.
