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Now is the time to learn new skills and do those tasks you have been putting off. Thankfully, Covent Garden is home to many a talented folk and we have rounded up some of the best skills in Covent Garden so you can learn whilst staying in.
Alex, who manages the Cheaney store in Covent Garden, has shared his guide to taking care of your shoes. Follow his three steps and you’ll get many more miles out of your favourite pair. Now, over to Alex!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: good quality shoes need good quality aftercare. This is non-negotiable.
There are 3 basic steps to polishing a pair of leather shoes or boots properly. Make sure they’re dry, give them a quick brush then follow the steps below. You do not have to use all 3 products every time you polish them if you don’t have time. The most important aspects here are the order in which they are used and ensuring that you give them the full service every now and again.
With any product, especially if it’s one you haven’t used before, I’d recommend using a small amount on a hidden part of the shoe first to check the results. Safety first!
Saphir renovateur Cream is like using a moisturiser. It hydrates the leather, cleans it up and prepares it nicely for the subsequent steps. Leather that isn’t hydrated properly absorbs moisture a lot quicker, therefore letting water in. Just take a soft cloth and apply a small amount all over the shoe in small circular motions. Leave to dry for 10 minutes or so before brushing off the excess with a horsehair brush.
A pigmented shoe cream adds – you guessed it – colour back into the shoe and continues the hydration of the leather. It also contains a small amount of beeswax, which will start to build protective water resistance. Apply and brush off in exactly the same way as the renovateur.
Beeswax Polish - Now we’re talking. Due to the high percentage of beeswax in our wax polishes, it will really help to protect the leather against water and give it a nice subtle shine. You apply this in much the same way as the previous creams, but it’s also a good idea at this point to take a welt brush and apply some wax to the welt of the shoe. This is the strip of leather running around the outside of the shoe with stitching. Getting some wax in there will help keep water out where the sole meets the upper, aiding water resistance further. After brushing the wax polish off the shoe, you can repeat the wax process until you have achieved a level of shine that you are happy with.
