Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Those are expensive! What if I cannot afford anything in the store? Are there other ways I can get involved with The Preemptive Love Coalition?
A: Go to this page to see all the options for getting involved!
Q: How much money per pair goes to help kids in Iraq?
A: Depending on the shoe-maker from whom we bought the shoe in question, anywhere from 45%-65% of the $100 goes directly to fund heart surgeries in Iraq. Currently we have no marketing budget and every person involved works for free. Another way of saying it is this: 100% of the profits go to fund heart surgeries for Iraqi children.
Q: It doesn’t really take 8 weeks to ship does it? Nothing takes eight weeks to ship!
A: Suffice it to say that business in Iraq is a little different than business in the US. And due to the current traffic we are receiving, we have had no choice but to implement a 8-week shipping policy so that we have a bit of room to breath. In many cases, the wait is much less than 8 weeks, but for now, we continue to say 8-weeks so as to be realistic.
Q: Are 10.75 inch klash the largest you have available? Can you custom make me a bigger pair? Won’t my 13 inch foot actually fit inside a 10.75 inch shoe?
A: Unfortunately, 10.75 inch shoes are the largest we offer right now. Please don’t order a 10.75 inch if you are an 11 inch (etc) unless you intend to make the shoes a superneat paper weight. Email us at info@buyshoessavelives.com to see if we’re hiding any big shoes in stock at the moment.
Q: Why are the 10.75 inch Blue & White more expensive than the corresponding Red & Blue?
A: It is significantly more difficult for us to procure 10.75″ Blue & White (and larger) compared to the other shoes. We can find - or have made - 5-10 times as many Red & Blue-soled shoes as we can Blue & White-soled shoes. The price increase is our only mechanism right now to mitigate supply over-against demand.
Q: Are klash comfortable?
A: We think they are great. And that’s no lie. But comfort is relative. One of us got blisters for a day or two. Like almost any shoe, they take some “breaking in.” But they are all cotton, so they’ll flex with your feet within a reasonable amount. If you can fit your foot inside, your klash will flex with your foot. Some people think they are going to be like “clouds” (whatever that means - we’ve never worn clouds) simply because they are white. And the end of the proverbial day, comfort is in the foot of the beholder. Like one guy put it, “The difference in my klash today compared to the first day I got them is the difference between a new pair of jeans and my favorite pair of jeans that I put on after a long day of work. My klash are now the first shoes I reach for…”
Q: What if my klash do not fit?
A: You can send back any pair of klash that do not show wear. Try your shoes out for a few days at home on the carpet. If they don’t get to a point where the size seems like it will work for you (too big or too small), DOWNLOAD AND INCLUDE THIS COMPLETED FORM and send them back. We will adjust the size on your second pair per your instruction and send you a new pair at no extra cost. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns that show wear.
Q: Why do my klash have penny nails in the sole?
A: Kurds use these shoes as their primary spring/summer/fall shoe. As such, these shoes undergo miles and miles of hard walking each day. Traditionally, the walking in question was done in the mountains, running from Saddam’s army, or farming. The penny nails are a means of prolonging the life of the shoe against such rugged conditions.
Q: Can I take the nails out of my klash?
A: If you are handy with a flathead screwdriver or a pair of pliers, there is no structural reason as to why you shouldn’t or couldn’t remove the nails yourself.
Q: How do I clean my klash?
A: You klash should be handwashed with a toothbrush and a water solution of 2-3 cups of water to 1 teaspoon of a mild laundry (no bleach) detergent dissolved inside. DO NOT APPLY this solution to the colored sole of your klash, as colors may fade or bleed. After the white (top) of your klash completely dries, you can do as the Kurds do and apply a coat of white “blackboard” chalk to the white part of your klash for an extra-clean look. You might also Scotchgard™ your klash.
Q: Can I wear my klash in the rain? What happens if my klash get wet?
A: Don’t fret. We wear our klash to the beach; we just don’t wear them in the water. Your klash will survive. You need to do one of two things: (1) Place a wooden or plastic shoe form inside your klash (available on ebay under shoe form) until they are completely dry or (2) place your klash under something heavy that will keep them flat; something like a pile of dictionaries. The objective is to keep the leather strips running through the soles of your klash from shrinking and pulling the klash in on themselves.