GUIDI’s boots and shoes are renowned for their unique texture and the way they mold to your feet the more you wear them.
In particular, the back-zip boots are famous for showcasing the effects of aging over time.
This time, we will provide a detailed, chronological look at how GUIDI leather changes over time, focusing on the 788Z model, using photos that were previously shared on our "X" account.
Aging Process of the GUIDI Back-Zip Boots 788Z
こWe will follow the changes in the 788Z boots through daily wear, tracking how they evolve. You can see the daily transformations through photos, experiencing firsthand how GUIDI leather matures and develops its unique charm.
We’ve also posted the one-month progress on Instagram, so please check it out.
Day 1
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
On the first day, the boots are brand new, with no wrinkles, and the shaft is tilted.
Though it may not be visible, due to leather shrinkage, this is the smallest state the boots will be in.
From here, as you continue to wear them, unique creases will begin to form, and this is the real beauty of GUIDI.
Even after just 30 minutes of wearing them on the first day, faint wrinkles started to appear.
Day 2
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
On the second day, we began wearing them more regularly.
By the second day, the initial creases had become more apparent and began to deepen gradually.
Day 3
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
With each wear, the wrinkles became more defined.
Day 4
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
Due to the nature of daily movements, which involve a lot of standing and crouching, the wrinkles became much deeper.
Day 5
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
Around this time, the boots start to take on the familiar shape associated with aged GUIDI boots.
By the fifth day, the shaft began to transform into a cylindrical shape, adapting to the foot’s shape.
Day 6
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
The shaft’s tilt also started to straighten up.
Day 7
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
By the seventh day, the boots had taken on a more settled shape.
Given the amount of standing and crouching, the changes may have been quicker than one might experience.
Day 8
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
From the eighth day onward, the pace of visible changes slowed, and the deepening of the wrinkles became more noticeable than the overall appearance.
Day 9
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
By the ninth day, wrinkles also began to form on the upper part of the boots, not just the shaft.
Day 10
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
On the tenth day, the 788Z had undergone significant changes.
Day 31
Image credit: Our Company's X(Twitter) account(@Guidi_Aging）
Jumping to day 31, the speed of change varies depending on how often you wear the boots and the shape of your feet, but this is a typical timeline for transformation.
As you continue to wear them, the oil absorbed in the leather will rise to the surface, changing the color and sheen, and the wrinkles will become more pronounced, further altering the boots' character.
Even the same wearer will experience different aging processes, making GUIDI truly unique to its owner.
One-Month Progress on Instagram
For more detailed updates, we are also sharing the one-month transformation on Instagram, so please check it out.
The Secret Behind GUIDI Leather’s Aging Process
Why do GUIDI shoes undergo such dramatic changes over time?
The secret lies in the leather and the unique craftsmanship involved in making the shoes.
While many may already be familiar, let’s revisit how GUIDI shoes are made.
Full-Grain Leather Tanned with Vegetable Tannins
When discussing GUIDI’s allure, the distinctive texture of its leather is essential.
GUIDI uses full-grain leather tanned with vegetable tannins.
Full-grain leather, known as "shibo leather" in Japan, is leather that naturally has surface irregularities.
As leather comes from living organisms, it’s rare to find perfectly uniform quality.
Full-grain leather uses only the highest quality portions, making it a highly valuable, rare material.
Vegetable tanning is the process of using tannins extracted from plant sap, which takes much longer and is more labor-intensive than chrome tanning.
However, this method preserves the natural feel of the leather, allowing the color and texture to evolve over time, creating a unique aging process.
The rare full-grain leather, when tanned with vegetable tannins, gives GUIDI boots their distinct look, deepening in character as they are worn.
GUIDI’s Unique Shoemaking Process: A Blend of Tradition and Innovation
GUIDI's shoemaking process is a fusion of carefully selected materials, traditional techniques, and innovative methods, resulting in a product that can only be described as a work of art.
The leather, cut by skilled artisans, is stitched together with meticulous care.
GUIDI strives to use as few seams as possible, constructing shoes from a single piece of leather to maximize the leather's natural qualities.
All shoes are initially sewn using off-white leather.
This is a unique approach taken so that the later dyeing process can bring out GUIDI’s signature texture.
One of the most distinctive aspects of GUIDI’s shoemaking is the tumbler dyeing technique.
After the shoes are crafted, they are placed in a drum dyeing machine, where they are rotated and dyed.
This technique, unique to GUIDI, results in the leather developing distinctive color variations and textures.
The hardware, like zippers, is dyed along with the leather, creating a unified finish.
After dyeing, the shoes are left to air-dry naturally.
This slow drying process enhances the natural texture of the leather.
During this stage, the leather also shrinks, creating the characteristic wrinkles and curves found in GUIDI shoes.
Did you get a sense of the charm of the GUIDI 788Z and its aging process?
As you wear them, the boots mold to your feet and develop unique characteristics over time. GUIDI boots are truly a lifelong companion.
Besides the 788Z, GUIDI offers various models, so find the pair that suits you best and immerse yourself in the world of GUIDI.
The item we introduced today
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GUIDI Back Zip Boots Double Sole Wide Model （Black） ¥232,100
Click here to see the GUIDI 24-25AW products.
Inquiries about available shops and items
All the items introduced in today's blog are available at FASCINATE_THE R (Osaka Nishi Shinsaibashi) and FASCINATE KYOTO. If you have any questions about the items, please feel free to contact us.
Inquire by e-mail
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Shop info
FASCINATE_THE R
- POSTAL CODE
- 542-0086
- ADDRESS
- 1st Floor, Business Building 1-5-25 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- HOURS
- 12:00 NOON to 8:00 PM [JPT]
- TEL
- +81(0)6-6210-5536
FASCINATE KYOTO
- POSTAL CODE
- 604-8044
- ADDRESS
- #DECO3 1F Gokomachi square, 416-5 Dainichicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
- HOURS
- 12:00 Noon to 20:00 PM [JPT]
- TEL
- +81(0)75-708-3919
