Soft shoe material (5)
I believe the answer is:
suede
'soft shoe material' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for suede that I've seen before include "leather material" , "material used in gloves" , "Soft goatskin" , "Leather with a soft napped surface" , "Soft, velvety leather" .)