I needed to ask some master tradesmen in leather. I went on a sneaker forum, and the only answer I got was there was nothing to do for the shoes.
These are not any shoes. While you guys work leather for a living, these shoes are like my children, above most any other possessions I own.
The shoes were sole swapped. They are original 1990 Jordan V Firered's with a black tongue.
This was the most expensive shoe offered at the time of their release by Nike. It was also released during Jordan's time of building a legacy as one of the best basketball players of all time.
Currently their value is probably around $200-$250 because they have a lot of glue on the leather during the sole swap process. If I can clean the glue off without damaging the leather, they could be valued in the $450-$500 range since finding a pair is rare, but finding one that is wearable is nearly impossible and they are practically irrereplaceable without investing several hundred dollars into sole swapping another pair. Sole swapped pairs of original Jordans fetch very high prices on ebay and at sneaker exchanges.
Also the leather is 23 years old. Is there anything I should do to the leather to condition it for wearing?
