Have you ever had a pair of shoes that were great–except for scuff marks? Or have you ever wished your shoes were a different color? If so, you may be interested in Color It New.
I received a complimentary sample of Color It New for review in the shade “Dorothy” (Red). The kit came with everything you could need to re-color a pair of shoes. My results, however, were not quite what I hoped. I love the concept of this product so I will share the good, the bad and the messy!
My Color It New Review:
The Good:
In their own words: “Color it New is a complete, at-home, do-it-yourself kit that will change your closet forever. It allows you to transform your shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories to either an entirely different color or back to looking brand new in their original”
The kit was comprehensive., it included
- one can of Color It New,
- cleansing towelettes,
- a pair of gloves
- a painting tarp
- a mini roll of masking tape
- step-by-step instructions
- and a swatch of material on which to test the product before using on your items.
I was initially impressed with the kit and the instructions were well written. The customer care seems fantastic and the company has a fun back story (if interested check out their home page, I provide the link towards the end of this review).
In my perception Color It New smelled like paint and the application method was basically spray painting. The manufacturer states it isn’t actually a paint, again in their own words:
“Color it New comes in a variety of aerosolized colors. It is not a paint, but a custom formulation, developed after years of laboratory research, that adheres to the material like a dye – allowing the surface to maintain its original texture.”
The Bad and The Messy:
I knew it came in a spray can, for whatever reason I expected something a little more like a shoe polish than a spray paint. This is more like a spray paint. I followed the instructions to my best ability (there may be some user error involved) but was not completely satisfied with the results. I used a lot of the included masking tape roll, but found that some paint seeped under the masking tape cover leaving red paint in a few spots that were covered by the tape.
I also got a nasty headache from the fumes despite having several windows open and a fan going. I think this may best be an outside project or one for a well-ventilated workshop or craft room (rather than an apartment). I can’t blame Color It New, but feel I should warn those who live in dorms or apartments.
Most disappointing was that the can didn’t contain enough paint to fully coat a pair of ankle boots. I wear a European size 37 shoe (6.5-7 depending on the brand in American sizes, 4.5 UK size). This was my mistake, I originally intended to color a pair of red ballet flats (shown in the image collage). This would have worked perfectly with the flats, only I realized these flats need more than a paint job and are destined for the garbage. Instead, I spontaneously decided to color a pair of black ankle boots. The promotional material does state you can change a pair of shoe’s color, but I think it works best if the original is a lighter color than the new color. It took a lot of paint to cover the black and there just was not enough for two ankle boots. I suggest buying two cans if you want to color boots (even ankle boots). Since this would run close to $40, I am not sure the benefit unless you are creative with a spray can and plan to make unique wearable art.
My Conclusion:
In the title, I post the question, “Color It New Can Make Old Shoes New?” My answer is “yes”. That is, yes, as long as you either don’t mind a DIY look, are skilled with a spray paint can or choose a color similar or lighter than the original color. I think this is a fun and amazing product for the right person.
Where to Purchase Color It New:
Color It Now is available on their website coloritnew.com.
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