THE CARE OF YOUR SHOES

As I was going through our archives in search of some inspirations for a new design to introduce into our Ready To Wear collection, I put my hands on an old note written by George Cleverley himself in which he was explaining in details to his clients how to care for their bespoke shoes. His advises were word for word as stated below:

THE CARE OF YOUR SHOES

This care involves mainly the manner in which shoes should be cleaned. If the correct method is used, then it will not only almost double the life of the shoes but will ensure that they look their best until literally worn out.

1. The leather should be thoroughly cleaned of dust or mud before any polish is applied. A slightly dam sponge or rag is best for this purpose.

2. Two types of polish should always be used – the wax polish which comes in a tin and the cream polish which comes in a jar.

3. NEVER apply either of the polishes with a brush. Always use a rag.

4. First apply the wax polish but not very much. Dab the rag onto the wax polish in the tin and work it gently into the leather with a circular motion. Don’t use any pressure; only a light touch. Work one shoe all over with the wax polish and then do the same with the other shoe. Don’t polish it off

5. Next, apply to the shoes the cream polish. Again, use only a small amount and work well in, in the same way as you’ve applied the wax polish.

6. Next, take a soft polishing brush and brush the shoes all over.

7. Finally, finish off the shoes with a soft polishing rag 0 we use a piece of old pyjama material which is not too fluffy.

HERE ARE FEW HINTS ON THE CARE OF THE SHOES:

1. Always put the trees in your shoes when you take them off and if possible, leave them in until your next wish to wear them.

2. When the soles are wet, lay the shoes on their sides to dry. But don’t dry them near a heater or a fire, only a normal atmosphere.

3. If shoes have been cleaned incorrectly by having the polish but on with a brush, they will be covered with “dead” polish. This should be removed by using BENZENE.
N.B: Never use anything else for this purpose. Petrol, Methylated spirit, etc., will only ruin the leather. Benzene is a solvent. Put a little on some rag and gently rub it all over the shoes until all the “dead” polish has been removed. Don’t use any pressure, simply smooth it over. Then allow the leather to dry out for a few hours before applying polish again in the correct way.