Dansko is known for their supportive and long-lasting shoes, favored by working professionals like chefs, nurses, hair stylists, and others who stand all day. Their long-lasting nature sometimes means that their working life can far outlast the factory finish. My friend approached me to refinish this shabby looking pair for his wife, and I was happy to oblige. The first issue was the fraying stitches around the toe. Left to deteriorate for too long, these would spell the end for the shoes. Due to the thick and rigid sole, I felt these would be a good candidate for tacks. I hammered one in each existing stitch hole. I felt brass was a good color combo for the red leather. Tacks would not only hold the toes on, but the domed heads would take the brunt of the wear moving forward. As for the finish, I wanted to get these as vibrant as possible, so I started with some deep red dye. Definitely an improvement, but did nothing to mask the rough spots. The finishing touch was Saphir burgundy cream polish. This mixture of oil and wax filled in the rough texture perfectly. Projects like these really point out the advantages of making garments with real, high-quality aniline leather. With a good base like that, the finish can be restored many times over. A restoration like this would be much more challenging, if not impossible, with a coated leather or pleather used in lesser items.