Care and maintenance

Every pair of Olyene is made with natural materials, chosen not only for their quality but also for their ability to live, change, and evolve over time.

Our sneakers are designed to adapt to you and accompany you on your journeys, becoming more personal with every passing day.

Like a pair of jeans that gains character and becomes more uniquely yours with every day of wear, Protopia is also designed to evolve with you. The leather softens, adapts, develops a patina, and retains traces of your shared experiences.

It is not a product intended to remain unchanged from the first day, but to build a story together with the person who wears it. A story that, over time, can make it even more personal and precious.

This natural evolution is part of Olyene's character. With the right care, your sneakers can accompany you for a long time, maintaining their comfort, beauty, and personality.

Every pair is different

The leathers and dyes used by Olyene do not have the absolute uniformity typical of heavily treated or synthetic materials.

Small variations in tone, grain, surface, and color intensity may occur between pairs, as well as between different productions or batches.

These differences are a natural consequence of the materials and processes used and contribute to making each product slightly different.

They should therefore not automatically be considered defects.

The color may evolve

Over time, exposure to light, movement, and use can change the appearance of the leather.

Depending on the material and shade, the color may fade in some areas or become deeper and more intense in others.

The surface may also gradually develop a personal patina.

These changes are part of the natural evolution of leather.

Leather that adapts to you

Protopia leather is particularly soft and flexible, designed to adapt naturally to the shape of your foot.

It is the shoe that adapts to your foot, not the other way around.

This feature contributes to the product's comfort and tactile appeal, but also makes the surface more sensitive to marks, pressure, and friction.

The natural oils in the leather help keep it soft and flexible, helping it resist wear and aging.

For this reason, and given Protopia's slightly roomy fit, we generally recommend choosing one size smaller than your usual size. To find the best fit, we still recommend consulting our Size Guide and measuring your feet before purchasing.

When trying on a new pair, do so exclusively on a clean, dry, and protected surface, and avoid wearing them outdoors until you have decided to keep them.

Marks and patina: your story

Just like denim, natural leather also gains character through use.

Small creases, color variations, and marks that appear over time tell the story of how the sneakers have been worn and the experiences you have shared together.

Each pair thus develops its own identity, becoming increasingly personal and unique. Not necessarily newer, but more and more yours.

This evolution is part of the appeal of natural materials and should not be confused with a defect when it results from the characteristics of the leather or normal use.

Cleaning

For daily cleaning, gently remove dust and surface dirt using a soft, clean, and dry cloth.

For a more thorough cleaning, use a soft sponge lightly dampened with room-temperature water and a mild, pH-neutral soap, preferably Marseille soap, provided it is suitable for leather.

Gently clean the surface without rubbing excessively, avoiding getting the material too wet. Remove any soap residue with a soft, slightly damp cloth and allow it to air-dry naturally.

Do not machine-wash the shoes, tumble-dry them, or immerse them in water.

Avoid harsh products, solvents, chemical detergents, or treatments not specifically designed for leather, as they could alter its color or surface.

Water and moisture

If the shoes get wet, allow them to air-dry naturally at room temperature in a well-ventilated area.

Avoid direct heat sources such as radiators, hair dryers, or prolonged exposure to sunlight, which can alter the product's leather, color, or shape.

Storage

When not in use, store the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Before storing them, make sure they are completely dry.

Natural materials, not perfectly uniform

For Olyene, variation is not necessarily something to be eliminated.

The differences between one leather and another, the evolution of color, and the patina that develops over time are part of a product made with living, natural materials.

Naturally, this does not affect your rights in the event that the product has an actual defect or fails to conform to the contract.

In this case, you can visit the Warranty, Repairs and Support page or contact our Customer Service.

End of life: designed to last, but not forever

Protopia is designed to last over time.

Its durability has been tested to withstand 100,000 flex cycles, while the natural oils in the leather help keep it soft and flexible, helping it resist wear and aging.

But while it is designed to last a long time, it is also designed not to last forever.

The Protopia upper is made without plastics and with natural materials selected to reduce its environmental impact even at the end of its life.

Unlike many conventional sneakers, made with synthetic materials that can persist in the environment for hundreds of years and release microplastics, Protopia is born from a different approach: designing a product that offers pleasure and durability during use, but can also return to nature when it is no longer needed.

Reuse or donate.

If your sneakers are still in good condition, consider reselling or donating them. Every new experience can add another chapter to their story.

Return the materials to nature.

The Protopia upper is designed with compostable materials that can be converted into compost through appropriate processes and conditions. Before proceeding, consult Olyene's instructions for separating the components and the correct composting methods. The upper should not automatically be placed in organic waste collection or home composting.

The other components of the shoe have also been developed with a preference for materials of natural origin and solutions focused on biodegradability, to reduce the product's persistence at the end of its life.

Recycle the packaging.

Separate and dispose of the packaging materials according to the instructions on the packaging and your local municipal waste separation rules.

Our goal is simple: to create products that leave a lasting impression on people without leaving a permanent mark on the environment.

Because the most important mark we want to leave is a positive one.