FAQ

Shipping

Limited stock still available. Product ships next business day from Toronto, ON.

We will be opening pre-orders for our next drop in Winter 2024/2025, for shipment Spring 2025. After making your purchase, we'll be in touch with details on when you can expect them to arrive once they go into production. 

Your sneakers will ship from Toronto, Canada. No shipping fees, no duties, no surprises. (Okay, maybe some good surprises.)

For now, we're only shipping to Canadian addresses. Because we deserve nice things.

 

Returns

You have 30 days from the time of delivery to return your shoes for exchange or store credit. Please email us at hello@birdsofpreyshoes.ca with your order # and a real person will help you out.

Your shoes must be unworn, undamaged and in re-sellable condition. That means no creases or visible wear, and in the original packaging.

It’s cool if you tried your shoes on indoors and with socks. But if you’ve been walking around outside or wore them in bare feet, we can’t take them back. You understand why, right?

 

Sizing

We use standard EU sizing. That means our shoes fit more like a dress shoe or heritage boot than your standard retail brand sneaker. If you’re already acquainted with other Italian leather sneaker brands, you can expect a similar fit.

We strongly recommend measuring your foot before placing your order. If you’re in between or  in doubt, size down. Real Italian leather will stretch over time to suit your foot. And blisters suck.

Have questions or want some tips and tricks for finding your size? We'd love to help.

Email us at hello@birdsofpreyshoes.ca

 

How to measure your foot:

Measure the length of your foot from the tip of your big toe to the back of your heel.

Signs your shoes are the wrong size:

  1. Your heel slips as you walk, even when your laces are tied tight. This means your shoes are too big.
  2. Your heels are irritated as you walk. If the shoe collar is too high on your foot, you may experience redness or blisters. This blows. And it means your shoes are too big.
  3. You feel discomfort in the arch of your foot. It means the arch of your foot isn’t lining up with the arch of the shoe. Typically, this indicates your shoes are too big.
  4. If you see abnormal warping or creasing or stretching of the leather upper or general silhouette of the shoe, this is an indicator you have the wrong size, likely too big.
  5. Your toes feel squished by the toe box. This indicates your shoes are too small.
  6. You physically can’t fit your foot in the shoe. Our lawyers won’t let us say this definitely means your shoes are too small, but … come on.

What can I expect as my shoes wear over time?

Leather will do what leather does.

  • Meaning it will crease, warp and shift based on your foot and how you walk. Ensuring you have the right size, and can comfortably lace up your shoes will ensure a normal wear in the leather. 
  • If you see abnormal creasing or warping, it may be due to wearing your laces too tight and likely indicates you have the wrong size (see above).

Your insole will mold to your foot.

  • Our leather topped insole resists sweat, which helps maintain the foam bottom for a longer period of time.
  • It is removable if you prefer an aftermarket insole solution.
  • We use a steel shank and lasting nails to prevent abnormal warping of your sneaker over time. Any abnormal warping of the shoe's silhouette may indicate you have the wrong size (see above). 

Your outsole will, over time, wear down. However, that doesn’t mean the end of your shoe.

  • We chose a Margom sole because of its reputation as a durable, reliable, easy-to-clean component. However, it will eventually begin to break down after an extended period of wear.
  • Just like any sneaker, you may notice the toe or heel beginning to fade away in the area where you put the most pressure while walking.
  • The good news? We designed our shoes to be resoleable. Meaning when your outsole does eventually wear out, it can be replaced with a fresh one. So support your local cobbler before buying a new pair of shoes.
  • If you notice accelerated wear or abnormal warping, again this may be an indication you have the wrong size (see above).

Your laces will, eventually, stop resisting dirt.

  • We chose to use waxed laces because of their ability to resist dirt. But, alas, even waxed laces won’t hold off dirt forever. If you start to notice dirt and grime building up on your laces, it may be time to clean or replace them. Sorry, just keeping it real with you.

How do I keep my shoes looking new and fresh? 

Much to our chagrin, no sneakers on the planet will ever look as “new” as it does when they’re fresh out of the box. However, maintaining your sneakers like a dress shoe or heritage boot will go a very long way to extending their life and keeping them looking presentable. 

Here's how we clean our sneakers:

  1. Remove your laces.
    • You can clean your laces by leaving them for a few hours in a mason jar full of soapy water.
    • Rinse them off after removing them from the jar.
    • Make sure your laces and shoes are dry before lacing up.
  2. Use a dry horse hair brush to scrub dirt and dust of your shoes.
  3. Use a leather-safe soap and give your shoes a scrub.
  4. Wipe off soap and grime with a damp cloth or paper towel.
  5. Dry your shoes off. Do not leave them wet. 
  6. Sparingly, use a neutral tone leather conditioner to moisturize and preserve the leather upper.
  7. Lace up your shoes. Go party.