It feels like hard felt to me and when my fingers graze the case it’s like tying wet shoelaces. Looks pretty too. Did not come with ANY brackets only the shelf , useless without them. I first purchased the 9-10 size in these and they were too tight. It’s super heavy duty and so cute. The leather has some give at the front for my wide forefoot, but I can feel the edge of the insole just before my pinky toe. They are not the cheapest product in the market,but they are one of the best. I removed the plastic film from both cups. The footbed is somewhat cushioned and has a bit of arch support. I peeked inside and the shoes appeared to be fine, so I wasn’t too concerned.