HOW TO PROTECT LUXURY LEATHER SNEAKERS IN WINTER

SALT, RAIN AND COLD: HOW TO PREPARE AND CARE FOR LEATHER SNEAKERS IN WINTER CONDITIONS

WINTER IS THE MOST DEMANDING SEASON FOR LEATHER FOOTWEAR. RAIN, ROAD SALT AND COLD TEMPERATURES ALL ATTACK THE LEATHER IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE CORRECT PREPARATION AND CARE ROUTINE PROTECTS A PREMIUM LEATHER SNEAKER FROM ALL OF THEM AND KEEPS THE LEATHER IN CORRECT CONDITION THROUGH THE HARSHEST MONTHS.

BEFORE THE SEASON

CLEAN THE LEATHER THOROUGHLY TO REMOVE SUMMER DIRT AND RESIDUE. APPLY A QUALITY LEATHER CONDITIONER, SAPHIR RENOVATEUR IS THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD, TO REPLENISH THE NATURAL OILS THAT PROTECT THE LEATHER FROM MOISTURE PENETRATION. ONCE ABSORBED AND BUFFED, APPLY A BEESWAX OR CARNAUBA BASED WATERPROOFING CREAM. THIS CREATES A BARRIER AGAINST WATER WITHOUT BLOCKING THE LEATHER'S ABILITY TO BREATHE. SUEDE AND NUBUCK TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE: SKIP THE CONDITIONER AND WAX, AND APPLY A SPECIALIST SUEDE PROTECTOR INSTEAD, WHICH GUARDS AGAINST MOISTURE AND SALT WITHOUT FLATTENING THE NAP.

SALT DAMAGE

ROAD SALT IS THE MOST DAMAGING WINTER THREAT TO LEATHER. SALT DRAWS MOISTURE OUT OF THE LEATHER AS IT DRIES, LEAVING A WHITE RESIDUE AND CAUSING THE LEATHER TO DRY AND CRACK AT THE AFFECTED AREAS. THE CORRECT RESPONSE IS IMMEDIATE. AS SOON AS YOU RETURN HOME, WIPE THE AFFECTED AREAS WITH A CLEAN DAMP CLOTH TO REMOVE THE SALT BEFORE IT DRIES INTO THE LEATHER. ALLOW TO DRY NATURALLY, THEN CONDITION THE AFFECTED AREA.

DRYING CORRECTLY

NEVER DRY WET LEATHER SHOES NEAR A HEAT SOURCE. RADIATORS AND FORCED AIR DRY THE LEATHER TOO QUICKLY, CAUSING IT TO HARDEN, CRACK AND LOSE ITS NATURAL FLEXIBILITY. INSERT CEDAR SHOE TREES AND ALLOW THE SHOES TO DRY AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. THIS TAKES LONGER BUT PRESERVES THE LEATHER'S CONDITION AND STRUCTURE.

WINTER DOES NOT HAVE TO DAMAGE LEATHER. THE PREPARATION TAKES AN HOUR. THE RESULT IS LEATHER THAT SURVIVES THE SEASON INTACT AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP CORRECTLY.