Care Guide: Leather Trainers

2023-12-06

Leather trainers are a contemporary staple in any capsule wardrobe. Whether you are wearing them with a pair of jeans on the weekend, or with laid back tailoring for casual Friday, leather trainers are a stylish and reliable stalwart in our closets. Offering endless styling options and opportunities, leather trainers often incur the pleasure of becoming one of our most worn pairs of shoes, leading to the need for correct care and maintenance. We have compiled a few of our favourite tips and suggestions for keeping your leather trainers in beautiful condition wear after wear.

HOW TO CLEAN LEATHER TRAINERS

So, you have purchased a beautiful new pair of leather trainers, but what is the best way to clean and look after them? No matter how hard you try to keep your box fresh white trainers that perfect shade of white, inevitably, life gets in the way. But don’t panic, there are ways to clean and maintain your leather trainers to keep them in tip top condition. We recommend giving your leather trainers regular cleaning in order to remove debris which can build up over time. Firstly, remove the shoelaces and set aside, you can clean these easily using warm water and washing detergent, or they can be replaced affordably for a fresh pair. Next, remove any dirt or debris from the leather trainers with a dry cloth or soft brush. Leather uppers require regular treating with a high-quality shoe cream in order to maintain the suppleness and hydration of the leather and prevent drying and cracking. Apply the shoe cream to the uppers of the shoe to nourish and condition the leather. For an optimum conditioning treatment, leave the shoes with the product on for two hours before buffing out the excess cream with a soft cloth. If appropriate for your trainers and the look you wish to achieve, you can also always use a wax polish to protect the leather and give a high shine finish. We recommend applying the product to the upper in small circular motions.

ARE LEATHER TRAINERS WATERPROOF?
Leather is a natural and porous material, meaning that it is not waterproof. In the case of getting wet, it should always be left to air dry and not placed near any direct heat in order to preserve the shape, fit and colour of the leather. Wooden shoe trees are a great solution to keep your shoes in shape when they are not being worn and will absorb any moisture from within the shoe. Products such as ‘waterproofing sprays’ are available which will help aid the leather to resist the water, however due to the nature of the material leather will never be 100% waterproof.

HOW TO PROTECT LEATHER TRAINERS
Here at Jones, we believe that prevention is better than cure. We recommend protecting your purchases against the elements before wear. Use a quality leather protector over the product per package instructions, taking care with areas of detail. We recommend compiling a compact set of cleaning kit essentials so that you are always prepared to clean or prepare your shoes or a new purchase. The ideal care kit would have a shoe cream, horse hair brush, wax polish and lint free cloth.