Soft and buttery, our leather is reliably hardwearing, yet as a natural material it can be sensitive. Good shoes are an investment, and taking care of yours will greatly extend their lifespan. All of our leather shoes are made from natural hides that have inconsistencies. These natural markings on the hide are part of the beauty of the material and our shoes.

We love our shoes and we want to help you preserve yours. The following points are some tips we’ve learnt along the way.

General Instructions

• Before wearing your new shoes, carefully clean off any dirt with a soft cloth.
• It is preferable you store your shoes in a dry place, far away from any direct heat source.
• We advise that you avoid contact with water and any product containing alcohol (perfume, solvents) grease (make-up products) or abrasive products in general.
• In order to avoid damaging the back of your shoes, we suggest you use a shoehorn when putting your shoes on.
• To preserve the original shape of the shoes we suggest you insert shoetrees each time after use.
• When possible make sure you have the top lifts* of your shoes changed before they are too worn-down. After a certain stage of wear, mending the heels becomes impossible. A heel that has a top lift that is too worn-down might also become very slippery to the wearer.
  * Extremity of the heel, made generally from rubber, in direct contact with the ground.

TIP 01 - WATERPROOF

Before your first wear, spray your shoes with an all-season leather protector. If your shoes get wet, water will be repelled, not absorbed. Repeat this every few weeks during the rainy season. Beware of applying leather protector too heavily (i.e. standing too close and soaking), as it could darken the leather’s colour. 

TIP 02 – SOLES

If you’re going to do one thing for leather-soled shoes, add a rubber sole protector. If your shoes don’t already come with rubber-reinforced soles, we recommend having your local shoe maker/repair shop apply them. Water-resistant and skid proof, protective soles will greatly increase the life span of leather soles. If your leather soles get wet, allow them to dry naturally. 

TIP 03 - MAINTENANCE

Cleaning your shoes regularly helps give your shoes a longer life. Every few months, use moisturizing leather cleaner to help remove dirt and restore the natural oils in the leather.

It is normal that over time some softer leathers may become dry and lose some of their natural finish. To overcome this we recommend that you regularly apply a thin layer of nourishing cream and buff lightly with a cloth.

If you get a scuff or scratch, use a matching colour or neutral polish and buff with a soft cloth. This is also easily fixed at a shoeshine stand. Remember to re-apply your all-season leather protector afterwards. 

TIP 04 - COLOUR

After natural wear and tear you may want to revitalize the colour of your shoes. This can be done with specialist sprays, which have a similar tone to your shoe leather. We recommend making a trial on the inside of the shoe beforehand to ensure a perfect match and avoid any unwanted colour change.

TIP 05 - DRYING SHOES

When your shoes become wet, dry them with a soft, clean cloth and let them dry in natural/warm environment. If your shoes are so wet that they are damp on the inside, we recommend packing the inside of the shoes with newspaper to help absorb water. Leather should always dry naturally, so avoid fires and heaters. Overheating will literally cook the leather and cause it to become stiff and brittle. When drying, avoid contact with darker materials as this may cause some colour to leak or transfer onto the shoes.

TIP 06 - SALT STAINS  

While salt stains not only look unpleasant they can also cause damage to your shoes. Salt stains can be reduced or removed completely by mixing water together with a few drops of lemon or special agent and applying with a cloth or sponge. After your shoes have dried, treat with shoe polish or spray.

TIP 07 - SHOETREES 

Use unfinished cedar wood shoetrees for your favourite shoes. Shoetrees can extend the life of your shoes up to three times their expected life span. They absorb moisture, awaken the shoe’s natural structural memory, and prevent the leather from wrinkling and cracking.

TIP 08 - SHOEHORNS 

Use a shoehorn. They save the heels of your shoes from getting crushed, stretching, or wrinkling the leather on your heel.

TIP 09 - LACES 

Fix frayed shoe laces by dipping the ends in clear nail polish. This will make them easier to lace.

TIP 10 - REST

Give your shoes a rest. Leather shoes should have one full day to dry out from natural foot perspiration. While we understand that you want to wear your favourite shoes three days in a row, giving them a day off between outings will keep them very happy.

Care Instructions

SMOOTH OR GRAINED LEATHERS

Smooth or grained leathers should be cleaned with a soft and dampened cloth. Once the leather is dry you can polish it in circular strokes using a high quality colourless cream and a soft cloth.

NAPPA LEATHERS

Nappa leather is a very soft material and shoes made from this material will stretch with time, so please keep this in mind when selecting your size. Nappa is naturally very porous, so please avoid coloured creams and moisturising agents, as these may leave watermarks, which are very difficult to remove.

CALF LEATHERS

Calf is relatively strong leather, but it can get marked with wear and does require occasional maintenance. A leather protection cream can be used to maintain the leather. Any loose dirt can be wiped with a soft damp cloth and dried away from direct heat. Classic calf leather is very absorbent, so we suggest applying a leather protector before wear to prevent irreversible staining or watermarks. Over time and with exposure to light, this leather will gradually become darker in colour. This mellowing effect is a natural feature of the material, and is not a defect. Light scratches on the leather can be buffed away using clean fingers to rejuvenate the natural oils on the leather.

PATENT LEATHERS

Patent leather is made from real leather finished with a mixture of acrylic and polyurethane, which gives a longer lasting, durable finish. Any loose dirt to can be easily removed with a damp cloth using lukewarm water and plain soap or Windex. You can enhance the shine with a smooth soft cloth. With wear, patent leather may eventually lose its glossy finish. Patent will easily absorb ink or pigments so we recommend avoiding contact with dark or heavily printed materials. Please also avoid contact with alcohol or any type of solvent.

SUEDE LEATHERS