4 Fun Ways to Personalize Your Shoes and Boots

At Stridewise, we love boots and shoes that last — but we also appreciate footwear that stands out. Whether you’re headed to a wedding or just want to add a little personality to your everyday footwear, there are plenty of ways to customize your shoes and boots beyond the standard off-the-shelf look.

To explore some of the most creative options, we spoke with Rahul, owner of The House of Toramally, who specializes in making one-of-a-kind footwear. From subtle tweaks to bold artistic statements, here are four fun ways to personalize your footwear.

1. Spice up your shoes with a custom patina

If you want your boots to be truly one-of-a-kind, a hand-painted patina is the way to go. This technique has deep roots in India, where leather painting dates back centuries.

“India has a very deep history of leather painting,” Rahul says. “We wanted to bring that tradition into modern shoemaking and also give local artists steady work they can rely on.”

From rich gradients to unexpected colors like green or tan, patina work transforms boots into wearable art. You can go subtle with tonal shading, or bold with high-contrast finishes. Either way, you’ll end up with boots no one else has.

2. Paint, ink, and engraving your shoes

Adding color can add a lot of personal style. Tattooing, painting, engraving your shoes with a message or an icon that keeps you anchored to what is important to you sounds like a rad idea.

Tattooing Shoes

Tattooing leather works much like tattooing skin, but with some key differences.

“On human skin, scratches heal, and the ink settles as the skin regenerates. Leather doesn’t heal,” explains Rahul. “If you scratch it, the mark is permanent. That makes the process more delicate, because any slip can ruin the shoe.”

Typically, tattooing is done on “crust” leather — unfinished hides that absorb ink more easily. The results can be bold or subtle: one pair we saw had a flaming skeleton riding a wolf, while another featured soft, monochrome floral designs.

Painting Shoes

Painting is another option, and it opens up an even broader color palette. Painted shoes can last just as long as tattooed ones if properly sealed against water and wear.

“When we paint shoes, sealing is critical,” says Rahul. “The shoes face rain, dirt, and constant friction. Without sealing, the colors would wear away.”

Painted designs range from floral patterns to bold motifs, and they’re especially popular at weddings. Some clients even request family crests — ancestral or newly invented — for a regal touch. Dragons, sparrows, and other symbolic imagery are also common choices.

Engraving Shoes

For something truly next-level, there’s engraving. Here, artisans carefully cut into the leather to create three-dimensional textures, like reptilian scales.

“A single pair can take 18 to 20 hours,” says Rahul. “Every scale has to be cut by hand. Cut too deep, and the leather is ruined.”

The result is tactile, eye-catching, and unlike anything mass-produced. Think of it as taking the patina idea one step further — instead of just playing with color, you’re embedding art into the very surface of the leather.

3. Use a different type of sole

The sole is one of the most overlooked areas of a boot, but it’s also one of the easiest to customize.

“A Goodyear welt is the easiest to resole, but even Blake-stitched shoes can be resoled,” explains Rahul. “It all depends on the quality of the material and the kind of finish you want.”

Chunky lug or sneaker soles if you want to blur the line between dressy and casual.

Resoling gives new life to your boots and lets you choose how bold — or subtle — you want the customization to be.

[Read More: What are crepe soles and are they any good?]

4. Change your laces, add tassels or fringes

Swapping laces might be the simplest upgrade, but it makes a big impact. Raul points out,

“Even just adding tassels or a removable fringe completely changes the look,” says Rahul. “Wear them with or without, and you have two different styles.”

Some easy lace upgrades include adding different colors: try green laces in brown boots, or even red or yellow for contrast in black boots. Alternative lacing patterns like bar lacing or cross lacing add subtle sophistication and show you care about the details.

Decorative touches like tassels and fringes work especially well for weddings or dressier occasions.

A small change at eye level goes a long way in making boots feel more personal.

Wrapping Up

Personalizing your boots doesn’t always mean going wild — even a small change like cream laces or a fiddleback waist can make your footwear stand out. For the adventurous, hand-painted patinas or leather tattoos open up a world of creative expression.

Whether you stick to subtle tweaks or go all-in with custom artistry, the key is finding a style that feels like you.