Leather and Suede Shoe Care Guide

By J.L. Rocha Collections

Introduction:

Our leathers and suedes are meticulously crafted to develop with time. A well defined patina is the symbol of high quality vegetable tanned leather, as you wear and expose your luxury legacy pieces to the elements and usage, a natural oxidation will occur - deepening the colors and definition. This guide will help you maintain and develop your luxury leather and suede jackets for a long and healthy life.

  • We do not recommend you expose your shoes to excessive liquid beyond reasonable usage.

  • We do not recommend use of your shoes in excessive hot or cold weather conditions.

Leather & Suede Storage

Room Temperature, Away From Sun, Maintain Shape

Optimal Temperature

Leather and suede should be stored at 65°-72° Fahrenheit, around roughly 55% humidity. The optimal humidity for a home is roughly around 40%, therefore a standard closet should have a positive temperature for your leather or suede if proper finger spacing is maintained.

Moisture Control

We recommend storing your leather or suede shoes in cool and dry environments where they are not exposed to sunlight, as extreme temperatures and humidity can severely damage leather and sunlight can make the product lose its color. We also recommend storing on shelves, away from cement floors as cement releases moisture, preferably in shoe bags that allow the leather to breathe. 

Maintaining Shape

Maintaining the shape of your shoes is a vital piece of maintenance. In the right size, high-quality, cedar shoe trees can accomplish this as well as removing moisture and maintaining a fresh smell. Alternatively, stuffing acid free tissue paper can also help maintain shape.

Conditioning Leather

We recommend moisturizing your leather products every 6 to 12 months depending on the following conditions:

  • The exposure to sun both in use and storage.

  • Humidity levels in your environment and during use.

  • Frequency of use.

  • Exposure to excessive heat or cold.

When applying leather conditioner be sure to brush any particulates off with a horsehair brush, apply moisturizing agent evenly, and wipe off excessive moisturizer with a clean microfiber cloth.

Brushing Suede

When using your suede shoes, stains and usage marks can be removed with a suede eraser and suede brush. We recommend applying minimal pressure and to exercise these methods sparingly, keeping in mind the color of your suede and our organic dyes.

For any stain caused by oils, liquids or food products - we recommend you consult a professional for cleaning.


A message on waterproofing:

J.L. Rocha Collections urges our community to avoid waterproofing your products with any form of chemical solution. Leather contains naturally hydrophobic qualities and when cared for minor exposure to water will not heavily harm your jacket if quickly removed and cared for. Suede should be worn only in suitable conditions without exposure to water.

We highly recommend that any client that still wishes to apply waterproofing agents do so with caution and care - as some solutions may create a change in color variation with our natural dyes.

Final Notes and Outside Resources:

Thank you for reviewing our leather and suede shoe care guide. J.L. Rocha encourages you to allow your shoes to develop with you, care for your legacy piece as you would yourself, and breathe into it the stories that come with your life. Our products are crafted to grow with you with minimal care and moisture needed.

Outside resources:

We have compiled a number of outside sources you can use to determine your best course of action to care for your items. You may review them below:

The New York Times - The Best Products for Maintaining and Shining Leather Shoes