PRICKLE. MTO

I make shoes and boots in sizes UK 3 to UK 7 (no half sizes). Footwear is made to a standard D width fitting, but many of the styles have been especially designed to be adaptable for various width fittings adjusting from narrow to wide.

How to measure

You will need a metric tape, a sheet of paper, pencil and a wall. Use the diagram below to take your length measurement (both feet), then compare to size chart below to find the perfect fit. Allow a little wiggle room based on your own personal preference. If you buy larger sizes in high street shoes to get extra comfort on the width you may need 2 sizes down in fairysteps. Message me if you are unsure.

NOTE: Fairysteps shoes are generous. Customers always 'size down' in our shoes, so as a general rule, order one size down from your usual commercial shoe size, eg: usual size = EU 39 / UK 6, order size = EU 38 / UK 5. Half sizes should go down to the next full size below.

Place a sheet of paper and your heel against a straight wall. With pencil held upright, mark the longest toe. Do this with both feet as they are often different lengths. Use the longest measurement as a guide. If you are ordering boots it is advisable to wear your socks when measuring, for shoes, feet should be barefoot.

Interior finished size of BOOTS, SHOES & CLOSED TOE SANDALS:

UK 3 - Length: 23.8 cm  
UK 4 - Length: 24.7 cm  
UK 5 - Length: 25.6 cm 
UK 6 - Length: 26.5 cm 
UK 7 - Length: 27.4 cm

Interior finished size of OPEN TOE SANDALS, foot bed from heel cup to front edge (measured at the centre line):

UK 3 - Length: 24.4 cm
UK 4 - Length: 25.3 cm
UK 5 - Length: 26.2 cm
UK 6 - Length: 27.1 cm
UK 7 - Length: 28 cm

Sandals such as 'Flittle' are open at the toe, so the exposed foot bed is longer. As such, you may have to size down further to avoid too much room being left beyond your toes. See individual listings for specific sizing information.

Example; my foot length measurement is 25.5 cm and I am a high street shoe size of UK 7. I select size UK 6 for boots & shoes, but I choose a UK 5 in open toe sandals & slip on's.

 

Overseas Sizing Conversion Table & Order notes for International customers

UK 3 / US 5 / EU 35.5
UK 4 / US 6 / EU 37
UK 5 / US 7 / EU 38
UK 6 / US 8 / EU 39
UK 7 / US 9 / EU 40.5

Conversions are approximate, don't forget you will need to measure up before ordering to check your actual foot measurement on the chart. An International customer who wears a US size 8 would convert to a UK 6, but will need to select UK 5 when ordering, thus following the 'down one size' rule.

Please note: Customers are responsible for taking accurate measurements following the detailed instructions given. I can only give sizing advice with the information you provide, and even then, on occasion you may have to pay to return footwear for a refund. Feet are fickle things and sometimes only actually trying on footwear can tell you if the fit feels right for you. 

I do not offer exchanges, instead please return your initial order which I will then refund (less the initial postage), and then reorder suitable replacements should you wish to.

 

Barefoot comfort soling

I believe that your shoes should feel just like slippers, all day, every day, and our shoes do just that. After a few wears the leathers will soften and become supple and mellow. There is no plastic inside your Fairysteps shoes! The leather insoles will allow your foot to bed into the sole creating its own unique cradle, offering glove like comfort.

Fairysteps use Vibram, a durable, highly flexible, lightweight, cushioned, soling made in Italy. FLEX ZERO DROP soling offers an excellent level of bounciness and protection yet still gives a sense of grounding. FLEX WITH HEEL same  comfy material as Zero Drop but with additional layer at the heel. Plus a superb Vibram CHUNKY WEDGE thats just as flexible. When the time comes your shoes or boots can be resoled by your local cobbler thus extending the life of your beloveds and avoiding landfill sites.

Why barefoot comfort & not just barefoot?

The footbed on Fairysteps shoes is both generous and supremely comfy, so I call them barefoot comfort, but they arent going to be like some other 100% barefoot shoes with the incredibly wide toe box and ultra thin sole.

 

Adhesives & Threads

The adhesives I use are the lowest in nasty chemicals (toluene and MEK free) I could find whilst still being highly effective. Stitching threads are British made, superior quality, rot proof and abrasive resistant. My old sewing machines are terribly fussy, they only like to sew with the best.

 

After care

Always make sure that your shoes are kept well polished to avoid unnecessary wear. Any good polish will do, my preference being a good leather balm. Search 'Leather balm' on google and lots of different makes will come up. Its often made from almond oil, beeswax, lanolin and other natural products. Renapur which is British made can be bought via Amazon.

Polishing your shoes will darken the finish on all leathers apart from the satin finish ones. The *antiqued finish leathers will lighten with wear as the waxes and oils in the leather are displaced. It's a useful indicator that a jolly good polish is needed to replenish both the colour and the finish. If there is any fading then you can use a tinted shoe cream available in shoe shops or online. Polish them each month, make it a date ♥ and love them, they will be with you for a very long time.

Fairysteps are all season shoes. Mine have gone boulder hopping at the seaside and the Moors, as well as running and rambling. As with all leather shoes you should avoid wearing in excessively wet conditions as it may cause stretching. I clean off the mud, pop them somewhere lukewarm (not on a radiator), and when dry I give them a polish. The ribbons even get a wash in the sink with warm water and hand soap. My shoes are then ready for the next adventure.

 

Allow up to 10 weeks making time for custom items. A dispatch email will be sent as soon as they are in the post.

UK postage rates
Shoes £10.00

INTERNATIONAL postage rates
Shoes £28.00
Postage is based on cart total.

Delivery information
All custom made footwear orders are sent via Royal Mail insured post.

Delivery times can vary depending on the destination country but it can take a while. Please allow up to 21 days for your parcel to be delivered. International customers are responsible for any customs charges that may be incurred. Custom charges are beyond my control. Please check customs rules within your country before ordering. Due to new regulations coming into effect in December 2024 I can no longer post to European destinations, this includes Ireland. But... If you have friends or family in the UK, technically I can post to them and they can forward it to you as a gift, but as a business I cannot. 

Returning goods - PLEASE READ!
I accept returns (excluding special orders) within 14 days of date of delivery. Custom footwear can be returned as per conditions below. To log a return please contact me with your name and the date of order. Return to: Ren Cuming, Fairysteps, Hitchcombe Farm, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 8QB, England. 

Items must be returned unworn / unused and in the new condition in which they were received, in their original packaging. Always try shoes on a clean carpeted surface to assess fit.

SPECIAL ORDERS Are non-returnable and are not covered under my 14 day return policy. Item's made for you using any colour / decoration / soling etc NOT offered on the product listing is deemed a Special Order and cannot be returned for refund or otherwise. 

Your shoes will be handmade especially for you by Ren, an artisan Shoemaker working from her woodland workshop in the heart of rural Devonshire, England. Ren has been crafting unique shoes for her eclectic customers for over 2 decades, adding a little magic worldwide, one pair at a time.

Fancy a different colour combination than shown on the swatch? Please ask in the Order Notes box. Any colour combination or main colour or decoration not shown on the drop down selector is classed as a Special Order and is non returnable. See FAQS for full details.