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Some shoes are meant to last a lifetime, but in reality hit a date of death. Whether it be an accidental trip and fall that loosens something or eventual wear-and-tear, many people eventually realize their favorite pair of shoes needs to be retired—or trashed.
One woman is currently going viral for exposing what a pair of Coach wedge sandals looks like when it hits its death date. TikToker @yourstylejourney, a fashion content creator, took what appeared to be a red X-Acto knife and cut into a pair of her shoes. That revealed what she referred to as a “streussel topping,” which fell out of one of the wedges.
“ Whatever material this was, it was solid for years. But now it’s just powdery chunks,” she said in her post with more than 5.6 million views.
But what exactly happened to the wedges in her shoes?
What Was Inside These Coach Sandals?
In her viral video, Yourstylejourney revealed exactly what the inside of a Coach sandal looks like after 20 years. The content creator posted two parts. In the first, she explained when she got the shoes. She also tried on the pair to see if they still fit her. While trying on the pair, the content creator noticed that the heels sank inward.
“It’s literally like shrinking,” she said.
In her second video, the content creator peered into a slit she cut out, which revealed crumbly, white bits inside the wedge.
She then brought one of the sandals closer to the camera to reveal that the inside of the shoe had deteriorated.
“Looks like the crumble on a blueberry muffin,” she added.
She continued to dig through the wedge of one of the sandals. In certain areas, the sandal had not completely disintegrated, which revealed the shoe’s overarching structure.
The creator then warned her audience that similar shoes to hers are listed online.
“The owners may be selling these and not even know that they’re like squishy and made of streussel topping,” she said.
What Is Dry Rot, And Did It Happen To Her Sandals?
Yourstylejourney explained that her Coach sandals had “severe dry rot,” but what does that mean?
Dry rot occurs when the “natural fibers in the shoe break down, and the shoes become brittle and cracked,” according to Shoewhy. Typically, it happens to leather shoes that are improperly stored, cleaned, or constructed. In addition, some older shoes may dry rot after longstanding use.
Technically, Yourstylejourney’s shoes didn’t undergo dry rot. Instead, the foam wedge in the shoe deteriorated over time, which is attributed to hydrolysis and environmental stress.
In this case, Yourstylejourney spoke to four cobblers. They each told her the shoes were not worth saving.
“It would be a difficult rebuild of the wedge and then attempt to rewrap fabric,” she said. “The price to fix them would be more than they’re worth. It wasn’t worth it to me, they were 20 years old and had a good run. I was gonna throw them away anyways, so [I] decided to see what was inside!!!!!!”
Many online publications recommend individuals keep their shoes in a cool, dry place to prevent general material degradation. Slipping silica gel packs into a pair of shoes can help prevent any catastrophic damage due to moisture, but most sandals with foam wedges deteriorate over time.
People Are Critical
While many commenters thought the video was interesting, some were critical of Coach for using foam to create the wedges.
“It should be made of WOOD for the price, not foam plastics,” one viewer said.
Many shoes by both reputable and non-reputable brands use polyurethane foam to construct wedges, but a study in Polymer Degradation and Stability found that the material can break down within 20 to 30 years. Materials that are foam-based tend to break down more quickly than those that are made of cork, according to TODAY. That can make collecting vintage pieces from brands that do use foam wedges somewhat tricky.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Yourstylejourney via TikTok direct message and Coach via contact form.
