News

The Perils of Vanish and Laundry Detergent There are two types of people in this world: those who treat their sneakers as disposable, and those who understand that a great pair is an investment worth caring for. At Sneaker Pharm, we naturally believe in the latter. Yet, we see the same mistake repeated — someone has reached for the bright pink tub of Vanish or another laundry aisle heavyweight in a bid to “revive” their trainers. The result? Stiff suede and colourways that look like a bad tie-dye experiment. So, let’s set the record straight. Laundry products like Vanish are...

Resoling Sneakers: Why Brands Hold the Missing Piece In the lifecycle of a sneaker, it is rarely the upper that fails first. Stitching, materials, and design often remain in good condition. Instead, it’s the sole that gives way earliest — and once that happens, the entire shoe is typically written off. This creates an avoidable problem: a shoe that is mostly functional is discarded because one component has perished. The Current Reality of Sole Swaps At Sneaker Pharm, we have the tools and expertise to perform sole swaps. In cases where original soles aren’t available, we use three approaches: Generic outsoles...

If you’ve ever pulled out an old pair of sneakers and found the soles stiff, yellow, or even falling apart like cake, you’ve witnessed how sneaker materials break down over time. It’s more science than wear and tear. 1. From Flexible to Brittle Soles are made from polymers — long chains of molecules designed to flex and cushion. Over time, oxygen, UV light, and heat break these chains into shorter ones, a process called depolymerisation. Long, flexible chains = soft and springy soles Short, broken chains = stiff, brittle soles That’s why older sneakers often feel harder and more fragile,...

Understanding Suede as a MaterialSuede is a type of leather made from the underside of an animal hide, which gives it its soft, velvety feel. Unlike smooth leather, suede has a nap—tiny raised fibres that create its signature texture. This nap is what makes suede look and feel luxurious, but it also means it reacts differently to touch, light, cleaning, and general wear. Colour and Texture The colour of suede is never completely flat or uniform. Because of the nap, brushing the material in one direction will make it look lighter, while brushing it the other way will make it...

Milestone day for our first product in development. Today I dropped off the first batch of bottles for screen printing. Made in uk in every aspect.  The print will be screened with a special TPU polymer that is baked on to the glass at 600 degrees. 🧑🍳 This ensures longevity of the print which includes important information but also lets you reuse the bottle ♻️  We thought about lifecycle of the packaging and where it ends up. We moved away from printing on card or paper to minimise the waste elements.  We will also have a refill station in store...