Four Years And Counting: The Story of My Trusty Jack Purcells
Benefits of stitched soles, a simple way of cleaning canvas sneakers and the obligatory before and after photos.
It finally feels like spring/summer, and I brought out my trusty 4-year-old Jack Purcells. Honestly, this is by far my favorite plimsolls silhouette. Sorry, Chuck💁🏼 I’ve yet to try CVO though.
I was too lazy to clean them at the end of last season, so now was about time. My method for canvas shoes is plain and simple: plastic brush and cheap soap from a household store. I know, it sounds harsh, but I found it giving the best results, second only to professional cleaning. Plus, unlike washing machines, it requires less contact with water, meaning that you lower the chances for the sole to unglue from the upper.
But what I like about this exact pair is its unlikely construction. Most canvas shoes have their soles glued to the uppers. Some of them go through a process of vulcanization (which is an oven where soles and uppers converge together under high temperatures). I believe the original Jack Purcell was also made through vulcanization.
But the model I have has their soles stitched to the uppers. I don’t find it affecting the looks, but it does give additional strength. Do you know these nasty holes in points of folding that appear when the upper unglues from the sole? Stitching doesn’t fully prevent it but definitely minimizes it. Even when these holes appear, the shoe doesn’t look like it’s about to fall apart. Quite the opposite, the stitching guarantees that it won’t.
I’ve already been wearing my pair for four years, and I see no reasons to retire them anytime soon. Yet, as of lately, I haven’t seen Converse releasing sneakers with stitched soles.
What’s your experience with canvas sneakers?