Can the Inside Lining of the Shoes be Repaired? [4 Easy Steps]

Are your leather shoes not giving premium comfort because of the inside lining or want to know Can the inside lining of the shoes be repaired? If yes then don’t worry. Because the Inside lining of the shoes can be repaired or replaced as well.

Shoes are an important part of your look. They give you a stylish look at the same time provide a comfortable feel to your feet. But your feet get hurt when these shoes start giving you discomfort in the form of tearing down the inside lining.

You get frustrated and throw away the shoes after the inside lining of the shoes starts to fade or tear. But Don’t worry, I have found ways to repair the inside lining of the leather shoes.

What is the Inner Lining of a Shoe?

The inner lining of a shoe is the material which is inside the shoe that comes in contact with the entire foot when we wear shoes. The side, top and heels of your foot come in contact with the shoe lining.

  • Counter Lining: The counter lining is used to line and protect the counter area which is at the back part of the shoe near the heel.
  • Tongue Lining: Tongue lining is used to protect the tongue area of a shoe which touches the upper part of your foot.
  • Vamp Lining: Vamp lining is used to protect the upper part and side part of the shoes which is also called a vamp.

The primary purpose of the shoe lining is to increase the lifespan of the shoes. The inside lining of the shoe is made from certain materials which easily draw out moisture. And They are made from a variety of materials for different types of shoes.

Types of lining used in shoes:

1. Leather lining

Leather lining proves to be the best quality lining, but it’s costly. The inner lining of leather material feels very soft on the skin of your foot and maintains the shape of the foot over time. Also, the Leather lining is the most durable material which allows airflow and lets the moisture evaporates easily.

It is a top-quality material for lining but is not used in sport’s shoes because it adds some extra weight. You will find the leather lining in formal dress shoes or in Boots. Leather lining can be repaired or replaced as well.

2. Fabric Lining

Fabric Lining is made from cotton and viscose and it is the most common lining used in shoes. Cotton and viscose are highly breathable fabric that absorbs moisture quickly. Shoes lined with cotton or viscose fabrics retain their shape even if they are worn regularly.

3. Synthetic Lining

Synthetic lining is made from polyester, acrylic and elastane which is a very common material for shoe lining. These materials hardly absorb moisture. This type of lining is commonly used in cheap quality shoes or first copy shoes. Big brands never use synthetic lining in their shoes.

This lining causes odour issue, and don’t evaporate moisture therefore it breaks down more quickly. You can’t clean them completely without putting them inside the washing machine. So, Avoid shoes with synthetic inner lining.

4. Linen Lining

Line lining is naturally breathable that keeps your feet ventilated by absorbing moisture throughout the day. And they are used in warm weather shoes. If you have sweaty feet then always prefer to buy shoes with linen lining.

5. Wool or Lambskin lining

The wool lining is mainly used in cold weather footwear to provide some extra hotness and comfort to the feet. This lining also absorbs moisture without a damp feeling. So, If you want to keep your feet warm and in a comfortable place then always prefer to wear footwear with wool lining in cold weather.

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Which is better leather lining or synthetic lining?

No doubt, the Leather lining is the highest quality and the most breathable material. It is a more breathable and durable material than synthetic material. Leather lining can be easily cleaned but synthetic lining can’t.

The inside lining of the leather material can be repaired or replaced as well. But, you can’t do the same in the case of the synthetic lining.  So, Overall Leather lining is an excellent material among other materials available out there.

Why does the Inside Lining of the Shoe tear?

First of all, you need to understand why does the Inside Lining of the shoe tear? High quality leather shoes are mostly made up of leather linings while the cheaper ones are made with synthetic material which tears down as time passes.

The Inside lining of shoes wears and tears due to continuous friction of the skin, moisture, pressure and causes the lining to disintegrate.

The moment you come to realize that your shoes have been damaged, the first thing to do is to stop wearing them at once.

Some people make the mistake of continuing to wear torn shoes which not only gives them discomfort but also gives them foot pain. So trust me on this and please do not wear the shoes after they are torn from the inside.

How to Care for Shoe Lining (4 Pro Tips)

As you know the main purpose of the inner shoe lining is to absorb moisture. When we wear shoes for the whole day our feet sweat and the lining does their work but it’s not easy for them to absorb the entire moisture quickly which can ruin the lining of the shoe. Here are some tips to care for inner shoe lining:

  • Give some time for your footwear to air out by keeping them in sunlight.
  • Try to wear your favourite shoes alternatively which will definitely give some break to the lining of your shoes to absorb the moisture.
  • Always use a shoe tree in order to maintain your shoe shape because sometimes moisture in the lining may shrink the shape of your favourite shoe.
  • Always wear socks with shoes which makes your shoe lining more strong and distributes the moisturization task between socks and lining.

Can the Inside Lining of Shoes be Repaired? 

The answer is yes, that can be done. These shoes are expensive and you can wear them again after resolving the issue. There are two things that can be done to resolve this issue.

Firstly, you can repair the inside lining of the shoes if they are branded formal leather shoes, and 

Secondly, you can altogether (pair) replace the inside lining of the damaged shoes. The best thing to increase the durability of the shoes is to replace the lining.

How to Repair the Inner Lining of the Shoes?

As the lining of the shoes is always in direct of the feet they easily tear down due to friction. At times you need to remove only some part of the shoes but sometimes you need to replace the entire lining and insert a new one.

Given below is the process of how to replace the inner lining of the shoes.

What you need to replace the lining of the shoes:

Depending on the approach you take, here is a list of materials that you may need while replacing the lining of the shoes.

  • Heavy fabric like cotton or leather
  • Water-based glue
  • Needles
  • Thread
  • Masking Tapes
  • Scissors
  • Razorblade
  • Pins
  • Cardboards
  • Paper

The process to replace the Inside lining of the shoes

 1. Cut the Old Inner Lining

Inner lining of the leather shoes

The first step is to cut out the whole old inner lining of the leather shoes. How it will be attached to your shoes differs from one shoe to another. But generally, it is most of the time stitched on top and glued on the bottom part.

You need to carefully cut out the lining by following the edges with a sharp razor blade or scissors. But do keep in mind to keep the lining of the shoes intact so that once you remove the old lining, you can use it to attach the new one that you make later on. However do not worry, if it gets torn you can still improvise as you go on.

2. Making the Pattern with the Help of Iron

Mark the new lining of the leather

The next step is to take the old lining and lay it on a flat piece of paper or cardboard. You need to iron the lining on low heat to ensure that there are no wrinkles or creases on the lining to get as close as possible to its original shape.

Keep in mind not to burn or sear or crinkle the edges of the lining. Once the old lining is ironed and wrinkle-free, trace its shape on the paper or the cardboard. Cut out the shape of the inner lining and you can now throw away the old lining.

3. Making the New Lining from a Piece of Leather

Cut the extra inner lining

The third step is to take any appropriate material, if possible please do take heavy fabric like leather or cotton as these materials will not be harsh and abrasive while walking. Some people even use material from an old pair of shoes.

Also, choose the colour of the fabric that matches your shoes so the colour difference will not be there. At the end of the day, it is your choice. Place the cardboard or paper on the material and cut out two pieces from the material.

One piece of the material will work as the bed while the other piece will provide additional support and cushioning. However, if you are using a thicker material even one piece will work.

Then iron both the pieces so that they are flat, and attach them with some pins to hold them together. Cut out the material to match the pattern and trim if it is needed.

Then take the needle and thread and stitch both the pieces together. Please do keep in mind to keep the material tight to avoid any creases.

4. Re-attach the New Inside Lining

Paste the lining of the shoe with the help of glue

The last step in the process is to attach the new lining. You can either stitch the lining or use water-based glue or use masking tape.

But we would recommend you to use stitching as it will provide better support as it will be able to withstand the pressure generated from any activities like walking or everyday use. However, you can water-based adhesive to fix the lining.

You can also use adhesive to attach the bottom part of the lining and stitch the bottom part. You need to choose the method that works out best for you.

Before you attach the new lining, please do make sure that you have removed any particles that may have come loose while you were removing the old lining. These pieces or particles can reduce the effectiveness of the glue after re-insertion.

Then tuck the lining in below the padding on the inner sole of the shoes to maximize the power of the adhesive. After applying the glue, apply pressure on the heel so that they get stuck together.

When everything is done, you must clean your leather shoes to give your shoes a new look.

The above-mentioned process is generalized and there are a lot of things you can do to improvise and customize the process according to your needs, material availability, and the type of shoes available.  

Some Tips To Increase the Lifespan of Shoes

There are certain tips that we are giving you to maintain your shoes and delay the process of wear and tear. 

  • When shoes get wet, quickly dry them
  • Use shoe baskets to store them
  • Clean them regularly
  • Wear socks
  • Always air dry them out after a long day, before taking them inside the house
  • Keep shoes upright 
  • Do not store them in a box
  • Use leather conditioner from time to time.

Video on how to repair and replace leather shoe lining


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Can the Inside lining of the shoes be repaired

Q1. Can real leather shoes be repaired if they are peeling?

Normally, Real leather doesn’t peel, it can only have some cracks and get some dryness though real leather can be repaired too. And, if your leather shoes are peeling, it means they are made of faux leather and the inside lining of the shoes can be repaired by following the above-mentioned steps.

Q2. What DIY tricks can be used to fix peeling linings?

The peeling lining of the shoes can be fixed by some DIY tricks such as by using fabric glue and then attaching it back in the place where the lining has started to peel away from the shoe. Also, You can sew them on with the help of a needle & thread This method will make your shoe a bit strong.

Q3. Can the leather shoes be resoled or is it worth resoling for the shoes?

Yes. Leather shoes can be resoled but before that, you must ensure that your shoes have some worth or not. I am saying this because if the upper portion of your shoes is flaky or falling to the pieces then there is no need to waste your hard-earned money. It’s better to replace the shoes with new ones.

Final Verdict on Can the Inside lining of the shoes be repaired

So, By now you got the answer to the question Can the Inside lining of the shoes be repaired? So now you don’t have to throw your favourite shoes away if the lining is torn and they still look good. All you now need to do is to follow the above-mentioned method and you can increase the shelf life of the shoes.

I hope that you liked this detailed guide on how to repair the Inside Lining, You can also repair the lining of your most comfortable dress shoes by simply following the above-mentioned steps.

Please do like, and share this article with your friends, family, relatives, and any shoe lover that you know. Please do let us know which tips were helpful to you. Also, comment if I missed anything.

I am the founder and chief editor of Men Shoe Factory, a passionate shoe lover from India. Studying and researching on shoes led me to build this blog site where I share shoe care tips, detailed reviews and different types of shoe size charts. Feel free to contact me on my social accounts or through the contact form here.

1 thought on “Can the Inside Lining of the Shoes be Repaired? [4 Easy Steps]”

  1. Hmm…You gave instructions to replace not the lining but the inner soles. What about the lining on the sides and tops inside shoes? Those are the parts of shoes where cheap lining first starts to disintegrate. Even high-priced (not luxury priced) leather shoes are now manufactured with cheap lining and outer soles. Up until the early 90s shoes with synthetic soles and lining did not at all disintegrate. Like most manufactured products of this day and age, shoes are simply not made to last. 🫤

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