Shoe care

We recommend that you treat all your new leather shoes with a suitable protective spray for the specific material before you start wearing them. This will help prevent stains and repel water if you happen to get caught in the rain. After each use we recommend that you air-out your shoes and preserve the shape by using cedar shoetrees. Proper storage is also important for maintaining your shoes. When not in use for longer periods of time, fill your shoes with white tissue paper and store them in a dust cover or shoe box in a dry, ventilated area.

Patent
Simply apply a drop or two of mineral oil on a piece of cotton. Gently rub the surface of your patent leather shoes to clean away dirt and dust. This is the best way to maintain the shine and gloss on a regular basis. In case you do not have easy access to mineral oil, baby wipes are also great for instant cleaning. Or simply use a damp cloth with a patent leather conditioner to clean and nourish and keep shiny. Patent leather shoes are not really suitable for wet weather but the coated surface does make them weather resistant to some degree. Beware that the material can crack in temperatures below zero degrees.

Python
We recommend that you use a special conditioner and protective spray specifically safe for exotic skins. Apply on a regular basis to prevent the skin from drying out and to maintain the original look. Avoid wearing your the shoes in bad weather as water may cause staining and water damage to the material depending on the varnish of the skin. Natural or raw looking python is much more delicate than the kind which has a visual shiny varnish.

Pony skin (calf hair)
Pony skin is susceptible to staining and tearing. However, proper care extends the lifespan of the material. We recommend that you use a small brush to remove any dirt before spraying with a suitable protective spray for pony skin to protect from general wear and tear. Not all protective sprays are meant for pony skin, so be sure to read the label before purchasing a spray. It is advised that you only wear these shoes in ideal conditions, and keep them safe in the closet during bad weather. Keep in mind that driving might cause the hair to rub off on the heels.

Metallics and foils
The use of regular water proofer or protective spray is not recommended on metallic and foil leather shoes. Use specific neutral, metallic protectors and cleaners only.

Suede
Suede looks best when brushed. Although special suede brushes are available, a clean toothbrush works just as well. Since you cannot polish away any scuff marks, use a suede eraser (basically a brick of crumbly rubber) to rub away small blemishes. Over time the colour of your black suede shoes might fade a little but it is possible to freshen up the colour with a special conditioning spray for black suede and nubuck. If your suede shoes get wet, allow them to dry naturally away from direct heat and preserve the shape of them with shoetrees or plain paper. Restore the nap with a brush when dry.

Nubuck
Nubuck is brushed leather similar to suede, just with finer nap. We recommend that you use a special rubber-bristle brush to be able to lift the fine nap and remove dust from the shoes. For removing small stains on nubuck, use a suede eraser to rub away small blemishes. Treating your nubuck shoes with a protective spray on a regular basis will help to repel water and prevent stains and keep them beautiful.

Calf skin
Since calf skin is such a supple skin, it needs special care. Apply conditioner or cleaner to remove any dirt and dust and to restore the leather’s natural softness and durability. To maintain maximum luster, apply a shoe cream to match the colour, polish and allow to air dry. Remove excess polish and wax by brushing with a horsehair brush and buff till you get the finish that you like. Finish off with a layer of protective spray when completely dry.

Salt stains
The damaging white salt stains that you can get from walking the streets in winter can be rinsed off easily with a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water. Apply the mixture sparingly directly on the white marks with a clean cloth and wipe dry. Finish off with a layer of protective spray when completely dry.