Footwear use and care instructions

When selecting footwear, it’s important to begin with the intended purpose. Logically, a single type of shoe cannot serve all activities. The product’s appearance can also sometimes be misleading; for instance, not every shoe with a sporty design is suitable for athletic use, and not all winter shoes are designed for snow conditions.

Walking shoes

These shoes are designed for both outdoor and indoor wear. It features a classic design without prominent fashion elements. Typically, its longevity and comfort take precedence over aesthetic considerations.

Fashion shoes

These shoes are designed for short-term use in low-demand environments, such as local roads, walkways, public transport, or indoor settings. They incorporate fashionable elements that can influence their durability, reflecting current trends that may affect their lifespan. Intended for occasional rather than frequent wear, it is crucial to exercise heightened attention when using them daily. Proper care and maintenance of both the sole and upper materials are essential to ensure longevity.

Highly fashionable footwear

These shoes are designed for short-term wear, with materials and construction focused on the latest fashion trends. The emphasis is on appearance and aesthetic value, which can lead to rapid wear and tear, resulting in a lifespan that may be significantly shorter than the warranty period. These shoes are primarily intended for dry environments, and it is crucial to protect them from moisture, dirt, and other forms of damage, particularly mechanical stress. They are suitable for occasional wear.

Winter Boots

These are specifically designed for outdoor use during winter. They offer enhanced thermal insulation properties and typically feature a thermal lining along with a distinctive non-slip sole pattern to provide traction in icy or snowy conditions.

Children’s shoes

This type of footwear is specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of a child's developing foot. It is essential that the shoes fit properly in both length and width, providing adequate space for growth—typically 12-15 mm. Children's shoes should feature a spacious, anatomically shaped toe box to promote healthy foot development. Given the rapid growth of children's feet, regular measurements are necessary to prevent potential orthopedic complications.

Today’s footwear incorporates a wide variety of materials, including different types of leather, synthetic materials, and textiles. Having a fundamental understanding of these materials, along with appropriate treatment and diligent care, is essential for prolonging the lifespan of your shoes.

Leather

Leather is the most commonly used natural material in footwear. It is breathable, soft, and boasts excellent absorption properties, allowing it to adapt to the shape of the foot. Leather features a unique grain pattern that varies significantly, distinguishing it from synthetic materials, which have a uniform appearance. It’s important to note that no leather is completely resistant to moisture; therefore, regular care is essential. The main types of leather include:

• Smooth leather – This type of leather features a finely structured surface with small pores. To maintain smooth leather shoes, remove dirt using a suitable brush or a soft, damp cloth, and then dry them thoroughly. Regular impregnation is recommended, followed by polishing with an appropriate cream or polish in the desired shade. While self-polishing sponges can be used for occasional maintenance, they should not replace regular care with quality shoe polish.
• Patent leather – Is leather coated with a film that gives it a glossy appearance. Its surface is highly susceptible to mechanical damage, chemical exposure, moisture, and freezing. To clean, remove dirt with a damp cloth and treat the surface with products specifically designed for patent leather care.
• Multi-layer leather – Is leather with an applied and fused layer of film or plastic on its surface. It shares similar properties with patent leather. To clean, use a damp cloth and wipe dry, or apply products designed for treating synthetic materials.
• Nubuck, velour (suede) – Nubuck is full-grain leather that is sanded on the outer surface, while velour is brushed from the flesh side of the leather. Never clean shoes made from these materials when wet. Instead, clean them when dry using special abrasive erasers or brushes designed for nubuck or suede. These tools help revive the color and can be either colored or colorless. It’s important to treat hair-on leathers with proper impregnation sprays to increase water resistance. Never use polish on these types of leather. Note – Hair-on leathers have reduced resistance to water.
• Other leathers – There is a wide range of other types of leather, characterized by their color effects and the various methods used to process the surface. A key feature of most of these leathers is that their appearance evolves over time with use. Rub-off leather is a type where the original color is covered by another, often contrasting color. As the leather wears, the top layer rubs off in the most worn areas, revealing the original color beneath. Another variant is leather with a mechanically damaged surface, where new shoes feature cracked leather that reveals a different color underneath. Over time, these cracks deepen, and in heavily worn areas, the surface may peel off completely, exposing the leather’s inner structure. These changes occur quickly and become more pronounced with continued use, giving the shoes a patina and a characteristic "worn" look.These changes are intentional and desirable, and should not be seen as flaws. Avoid using creams or polish on these leathers. Instead, care for them with impregnating sprays. Note – We do not recommend soaking or heavily soiling these leathers, as their original appearance may be lost.
• Underside leather – This leather is used for the production of soles for formal shoes, typically with a thickness of about 2.5 mm. We recommend these shoes mainly for indoor wear, as they are not suitable for regular outdoor use. Underside leather is very sensitive to moisture and uneven surfaces, and its natural property provides a pronounced glide.To maintain the quality of leather soles, treat them with a suitable product that enhances suppleness and increases abrasion and skid resistance. If you choose to wear shoes with leather soles for casual outdoor use, it is essential to have the soles appropriately sealed to reduce the risk of excessive wear or damage. Please note that footwear modified in this way should not be used in humid environments.

Textile

This material is typically used for lighter shoes, often for summer or home wear. Treat textile footwear when dry by brushing and applying suitable textile cleaners that clean, impregnate, revive colors, and help prevent soiling. Note: Do not wear textile shoes in humid environments.

Synthetic Materials

Plastic and Leatherette – These materials often imitate the look of natural leather but do not match its quality, particularly in terms of breathability, which can lead to increased perspiration. Despite this, they are relatively easy to maintain. Canvas components of footwear made from these materials are highly susceptible to mechanical damage, such as scuffing, which can cause surface pigment loss and reveal the original material underneath. To clean, use a damp cloth with a mild detergent and dry thoroughly. Note: These materials should be kept away from sudden temperature changes and freezing conditions to avoid damage.

Waterproof Membrane

Are special materials designed to reduce water permeability while enhancing the breathability of shoes. To maintain the unique properties of the membrane, regular care is essential. Begin by removing any heavy dirt using lukewarm water and a sponge or brush. Once the shoe's surface is dry, apply an appropriate impregnating agent as recommended by the membrane manufacturer. Note: The waterproof membrane does not provide indefinite resistance to moisture penetration.