My best friend is a cobbler,yes they are still out there, just a dying breed.......If you really want to dye them yourself. You can pick up a bottle of SHOE leather dye. The trick to getting the dye to stay on permanetly is to simply apply it in a small area. While it is still wet, hold a lighter to it, it will burn the dye into the shoe. Just watch out for a minor flare up....no joke.