Customise Your Shoes — Angelus Leather Paint

Have you ever seen hand-painted trainers on social media and wondered how it’s done? The answer is Angelus leather paint — the brand sneaker customisers around the world trust.

Why Angelus?

Angelus has been a leader in leather paint since 1907. The paint is a water-based acrylic paint specially designed for leather and synthetic materials. It remains flexible after drying, which means it won’t crack or flake off.

What you need

• Angelus leather paint — The main paint. Available in a wide range of colours. See the full colour range here.
• Angelus All-Purpose applicator (20 pcs) — Small sponge applicators that are ideal for applying an even coat.
• Angelus empty marker pens (10mm) — Refillable marker bodies that you fill with Angelus paint. Perfect for fine details.
• Angelus Preparer/Deglazer — For cleaning and preparing the surface (recommended but not essential).
• Angelus Finisher — To protect the final coat and help it last.

Step by step

1. Preparation — Clean the shoes with Angelus Preparer/Deglazer or isopropyl alcohol. This removes the factory finish and helps the paint adhere more easily.
2. First coat — Apply a thin layer of paint with an applicator or brush. Thin coats are key — it’s better to apply several thin coats than one thick one.
3. Let it dry — Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. A hairdryer on a cool setting can speed things up.
4. Repeat — 3-5 coats are usually enough to achieve an even, solid colour.
5. Finishing product — Apply Angelus Finisher to protect the paint. Choose between matte, satin or gloss finishes.

Our tips

• Use masking tape to protect areas you don’t want to paint.
• Mix colours together to create custom shades.
• Always test the colour on a hidden area before painting the whole item.
• For synthetic materials, it can sometimes help to add a few drops of Angelus 2-Thin to thin the paint.

Ready to get started? Browse our Angelus range.