SHOE CARE
Often shoe care can seem like a literal "afterthought". The maintenance of your footwear is either massively unacknowledged or made to seem very over-complicated.
It's very simple in reality. If you have the foundation of a quality pair of shoes the maintenance is minimal; you're already halfway there. Quality leather and construction make the "care part" simple and enjoyable.
You can implement a quick care procedure just to cover all the bases or you can get creative and give your shoes a new look and lease of life!
WHAT TO REMEMBER
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Leather is skin, just like your own, it needs moisturizing!
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Every leather is treated differently and will react differently
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You don't have to colour match! Clear polish is more than enough
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Always clean and brush your shoes before adding any treatment
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
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Cloth or Brush
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Leather Conditioner
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Leather Cream (Colour match or clear)
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Leather Wax (clear)
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90 Denier Tights
DID YOU KNOW?
IF YOU WANT YOUR BLACK SHOES TO REALLY SHINE... APPLY DARK BLUE POLISH IT WILL ADD DEPTH OF COLOUR AND MAKE THE LIGHT BOUNCE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE LEATHER!
THE PROCEDURE
It's essential to start with clean shoes you do not want to allow any debris to affect the finish. If there is dirt underneath your Polish/Wax it can scratch the leather and leave an untidy finish.
This can be achieved with a damp cloth and a stiff brush if needed.
At this point I feel it's important to put shoetrees in, preferably cedar wood these will absorb any moisture and odours from the shoe and help maintain the shape. shoetrees are an integral part of shoe maintenance and help with maintaining them.
It's important to remember that leather is skin and therefore must be treated as such.
Once your shoes are dry you need to start by conditioning the leather. Like your skin the leather needs conditioner this penetrates deep into the leather, This does two things it keeps her leather supple and helps prevent cracking, it also blocks the paws on the skin so when you add other products you’re working against a smooth surface.
Allow the conditioner to dry this can take 5 minutes and buff the shoe with a horsehair shoe brush.
At this point, it's time to apply leather balm/Luxe with an applicator brush. this is a soft substance and again is used as a layer to absorb into the leather and fill the remaining pores.
Apply the first coat with the applicator brush, allow five minutes to dry then buff with horsehair shoebrush, add a second layer allow five minutes to drive, and buff again.
REMEMBER!
EVEN WHEN YOU BUY A NEW PAIR OF SHOES, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BOX A WHILE! GIVE THEM A GOOD DUST, CLEAN, AND MOISTURISE WHEN YOU GET THEM HOME...THEY PROBABLY NEED IT!
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How often should I polish my shoes?
The frequency of shoe care will depend on how often your shoes are worn and how dirty they are getting it is advised that maintenance should take place monthly if possible.
Should I wear gloves or use tools to polish my shoes?
We would advise you to use whatever you feel most comfortable using. If you have sensitive or irritable skin wearing gloves would provide better protection, however, using naturally sourced products shouldn't cause any problems for your skin. We shine with bare hands as this way we can more accurately access how the polish is affecting the leather.
Can I send my shoes to you to be treated?
Percy Stride primarily works at exclusive events, however, should you wish to have a professional shine, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will arrange that service for you and provide you with a quote.
How do I get in touch?
If you have any questions or queries for the Shoeshine Movement team please get in contact with Steve at info@shoeshinemovement.co.uk or if you'd like to know which events you can see Steve and the team please contact Danielle at Percy Stride via info@percystride.com
MORE ABOUT MAINTENANCE
We aren't just about to design stunning footwear. We also have an incredibly handy collection of blogs to not only help you maintain your shoes but also your health, wellness and personal style.
