How to Preserve the Quality of Leather Footwear

Craftpur footwear is handcrafted by some of the best artisans in the subcontinent using materials of the highest quality.

The right maintenance can take leather footwear a long way. That’s why, this shoe care guide has been written to ensure that each Craftpur pair stays in top notch condition and ages beautifully for years to come.

Storage Tips:

The best way to keep a leather pair safe and to maintain its longevity is by storing it inside its shoe box when not in use. Craftpur’s footwear comes with complimentary dust bags, which are perfect to store shoes in! This way, each pair will be away from direct sunlight and heat.

The key is to make sure the shoes are well-ventilated before they are stored away.  

Shape Maintenance: 

A pair of leather shoes takes about a week or two to break into. The leather will learn the contours of the wearer's feet, mould itself accordingly and loosen up overtime. With this, the shape of the footwear will also change, especially in the vamp area and topline. 

To maintain the shape of the footwear, stuff them with un-coloured tissue paper or insert a shoe tree in them when not in use. 

Sole Maintenance: 

Leather Sole:

The leather soles used in most dress shoes are smooth and delicate, therefore, need to be handled with proper care and attention. Keep them off wet surfaces but in case some day, one accidentally gets caught in the rain (already halfway to work and can’t really turn back to change the shoes), all that needs to be done is to wipe off the excess water with a clean cloth and let the shoes dry on their own away from sunlight. 

The sole’s colour may darken due to the contact with water but that is nothing to worry about. Once all-dry, the sole will lighten to its original colour. Before storing them, wipe the soles (and the shoes) with a clean linen cloth to rid it of dust particles. 

EVA Sole:

The care and maintenance of shoes with EVA soles is as effortless as the shoes themselves! All one has to do is use a soft, clean linen cloth to remove dust from the surface of the sole and they’ll be as good as new. The cloth can be dampened to remove dirt off the sole as well.  

At Craftpur, all EVA soles are handcrafted in-house, that are used under the chappals and sandals.

Care Tips for Different Leathers: 

Crust Leather:

Vegetable tanned crust leather has no pigment coverage on the surface of the leather, allowing its grain to be visible in true form.  

At Craftpur, crust leathers are carefully handpicked from some of the top leather tanneries in Lahore.

It’s natural for a leather footwear crease and loosen up with use. To maintain its softness and depth, neutral cream or conditioner can be applied to it. However, conduct a spot test first to ensure the leather retains its colour.

Burnished Leather:

Burnished leather is the type of leather which, when rubbed or buffed, becomes a shade darker. The oils of the leather surface, adding more depth and shine to the material. Burnished leather is considered more valuable and expensive amongst other leather types.

Craftpur’s oxfords and chappals are made using this leather and require some extra care while handling and wearing. 

If the leather gets wet, the excess moisture can be wiped away with a clean cloth and the shoes should be dried on their own away from sunlight. Once completely dry (may take about a day or two to dry, depending on how wet they got) apply neutral cream or conditioner on the footwear to enhance its softness and depth. 

Aniline Leather:

Aniline leather is soft and finished using soluble dyes and contains no pigmented surface coating.

As with all types of leather, aniline leather naturally wrinkles with age as well. A neutral leather conditioner can be used to maintain the softness of the leather however ensure this is spot tested and the shoes are thoroughly dry before use.

Aniline leather tends to absorb stains and dirt, which you can gently remove by using a clean, dry, soft cloth.

Suede:

Suede is preferred for its velvety feel and high absorbency of rich colours. It is natural for colour variations to appear due to the rub of the leather. 

Surface dirt can be removed and the pile of the fabrication can be unified by using a soft suede brush. To maintain richness of colour, ensure the shoes are stored in their dust bags away from any direct light or heat.

A waterproofing spray may help protect the suede from light water contact. Always spot test products first to ensure colour fastness.

Care Tip for Other Materials:

Woven Fabrics:

Woven fabrics like mesh are durable and strong upper material and require just as much care as leather products. Everyone owns at least one pair of shoes that has mesh in them (hint: check the lining of a sports shoe). 

Such fabrics are highly absorbent and easily get stained. It’s important to keep the shoes safe from rain, oil and other liquids. But in case one has a run in the rain which makes the shoes wet, simply leave them out to dry on its own away from direct sunlight. 

It’s natural for the woven fabric to fade over time, therefore, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or strong light. Also, when not in use, remove dust and dirt off the shoes with a clean linen cloth and store them in their dust bags away from any direct light or heat. 

Vinyl:

Vinyl is quite a unique material that makes it look like one not wearing anything on their feet when they actually are! At Craftpur, vinyl has been used shoes in the women’s category, including the Nera Sandals. 

Even though its durability is high, the material’s breathability is low and the surface may steam up when wearing a pair of vinyl shoes. For this, one simply needs to air out the shoes before cleaning the surface with a soft linen cloth.

Do not spray the vinyl with any leather care products as this may cause the surface of the material to get damaged and affect its clarity. Vinyl is a sensitive material that gets marked easily, therefore, avoid contact with sharp or abrasive objects and surfaces.