FAQ

Suggies Frequently Asked Questions

I have a high in-step. Will your shoes work?

Yes, the best pattern for high insteps will be the Cushy. It fits lower on the instep than the Bendy.

My foot is wide. Will Suggies work?

Yes, but you will need to order our wides. We offer wide widths now in some colors. Our wides will fit a C and D width.

My foot is narrow. Will Suggies work? 

Our current production runs are medium widths. If you have a slightly narrow foot, then our pattern will fit you. If you are an AA or AAA they will not work for you.

Can I return them?

Yes, you have 30 days to return Suggies that have not been worn outside your home.

Extended Holiday Returns:

All orders placed between November 1 and December 16, including gift purchases, can be returned or exchanged through January 15, 2023.

Do Suggies work for bunions?

Leather is a supple material that conforms to the shape of your foot so our leather shoes will not constrict or cause foot pain or damage to bunions. Also, we don't include any hard reinforcements or glues in our shoe which can sometime cause irration and pressure against bunions. So yes, Suggies are a good choice if you have bunions.

Does the Suggies footbed have arch support?

Yes, our cushioned, thick footbed is made of slow recovery foam so the ball and the heel of your foot compress when you step down. This creates a natural arch between the ball and heel to support your particular foot shape.

Can suede get wet?

Avoid wearing suede shoes in the rain, but if you do get water spots on Suggies know that water will not ruin suede shoes. Let the water dry, and if there is a water spot, use a suede brush (or a clean, soft bristle tooth brush) on the spot. Soft brushing allows the nap to stand up and the spot will be gone.

Will my shoes stretch?

Yes, Suggies is designed to fit like a glove and they do stretch but won’t stretch out. We use high quality Italian leather that will form to your foot over time. It’s normal for your new shoes to feel snug at first so we suggest wearing them inside for a couple days and they will form perfectly to your feet.

Do your shoes allow for orthotics?

Yes, you can use orthotics. Some people wear them on top of our footbed and some take them out, depending on the type of orthotics you have.

Can I exchange them for another size?

Yes, we offer free exchanges. Just reach out to customer service and we will take care of you

How do I care for my Suggies?

For cleaning the suede upper, you can lightly brush your Suggies with a proper suede brush or soft bristle tooth brush. You can buy our Suggies recommend cleaning kit here. For oil tougher stains, we suggest a proper suede eraser that can be purchased at a local shoe repair shop.

To clean the white bottoms, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads work well.

Do not put your Suggies in the washer or dryer.

Is leather ethical?

Leather is a by-product of the meat industry. No animals are killed to make Suggies. Leather is a great material for shoes as it breathes (does not make your feet sweat) and forms to your foot and is more comfortable than synthetic/vegan materials. Most ‘vegan’ materials are petroleum based and the creation of them is at odds with the environment much more than the tanning process. That said, we understand that some women by principal are against animal products. If so, the Suggies are not for you.

Are any of your shoes vegan?

None of the styles we're offering at the moment are vegan.

How does the Suggies have a lower carbon footprint?

Suggies generates less carbon emissions because it has less than 8 components vs 12-14 in an average casual shoe and 25-30 used in an average sneaker. Because it is more simply made and because it is made in the America, there is a vast emission saving from less manufacturing and less overseas transportation.  

Suggies are cut close to order with frequent small production runs versus manufacturing large quantities. The result is shorter lead-times, more accurate knowledge of customer favorites and less wasted materials. With each production run, we continue finding methods for improvement.

How is Suggies ethical?

We consider multiple factors in the ongoing search for ethical and sustainably manufactured materials. By selecting suppliers such as a leather tannery with awards for sustainable tanning, to a footbed with eco-content and an insole board made of cardboard where we went from initially having 20% waste to 5% waste, we are very deliberate in reviewing all aspects of our supply chain to create the most ethical product possible.

When choosing where we make our shoes, we also review product quality, speed to market, reduced environmental impact and ethical conditions for the workers. This is why we selected a factory in the United States versus one overseas. We believe in a hands on approach with our factory partners.

What is your box made of?                                                                

Suggies boxes are made of 100% post-consumer and post-industrial content. They are fully recyclable and biodegradable. Our box maker is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Made locally made in the United States, the Suggies box is ethically manufactured and designed with simplicity and sustainability in mind.

The Suggies box is an “all-in-one”. Unlike most packaging where a box is put inside another box for shipping, our shipping box and shoe box are one and the same, thereby reducing waste by 40%. We also hope you reuse it  and if not, go ahead and recycle it.

Where does your leather come from?

We use Italian hide.. Our tanneroes uses modern technology and are leading players in ethical, responsible tanning. They are a leader in minimizing the impact of tanning on the environment and on workers. They have set the gold standard and are sharing this information with others. They developed a water-based finishing process (instead of chemical based) which is safer for the workers and the environment. They have built water purification plants. They have reduced the emission of carbon dioxide by opening 4 co-generation plants.

They hold the Gold Certified Environmental Stewardship Certification (awarded for ethical, environmental and safe practices in the processing of hides). They also hold the BLUE Angel certificate (awarded for minimizing their impact on the health and the environment during the production phase as well as in the recycling and disposal phases).

To learn more about Sustainable shoes