Hello!
I'd like to share a report on the LEATHER SHOES CARE WORKSHOP held at CultureClub on May 20th.
I've been wearing Quoc Pham shoes for about two and a half years now, but I had very little knowledge about shoe care—just vague ideas like wiping them down periodically and applying oil—so I attended this workshop in hopes of mastering shoe care once and for all.
Before diving into the workshop, I'd like to explain a bit about the QUOC PHAM shoes I wear.
QUOC PHAM is a brand of cycling shoes designed by a graduate of a London art college for discerning cyclists, utilizing natural leather and microfiber materials.
The Urbanite Classic Low, Mid, Fixed, Night Leather, and Tourer models use natural leather, so maintenance is essential to keep them for a long time.
Now, with care supplies and everyone's well-worn leather shoes—including Quoc Phams—spread out on the workbench, the shoe care workshop begins!
Izuru-san from DAISY MESSENGER, who taught us shoe care, even created a shoe care process guide shaped like a shoe. And it was printed using a mimeograph!
First, remove the shoelaces and use a brush to remove any large debris. Work from the upper all the way into the gap near the tongue to clean out the dirt.
The brush used here is the Gloss brush Dunkel from TAPIR. The length and size of its bristles make it the perfect brush for shoe care.
Once you've brushed away the dirt, dip a cloth in a little cleaner and apply it thinly over the entire shoe to remove old oil and any dirt the brush couldn't catch.
The cleaner used here is Tapir’s Leder Oil. Leder Oil is excellent not only because it cleans off dirt, but because it contains vinegar, which has a disinfecting effect.
I'd like to take a moment to talk about TAPIR.
TAPIR consistently makes products using only natural ingredients. While natural leather products have existed since ancient times, most common care oils today are full of chemicals. Wondering how people in the past cared for their leather, they focused on this, conducted extensive research, and perfected care products using only natural ingredients, establishing themselves as a German manufacturer that pursues the idea that only natural materials provide the best care for leather.
Returning to the process, the next step is to apply the cream. We used two types of cream, both from Tapir of course: Leder Pflege Cream Colorless and Leder Fett.
The Leder Pflege Cream on the left provides a high gloss, protection, and waterproofing. The Leder Fett on the right is an oil used for protecting leather products used in harsh conditions, especially when waterproofing is needed. Since this oil doesn't produce much shine, it's best to use them according to your needs and the type of leather.
As you polish them, they become incredibly shiny. The sheen, including the scratches, gives the shoes a really cool, lived-in character.
Let them dry for a while. Be sure to air-dry them; do not use a heater or hair dryer. Excessive heat will damage the leather. It's just like human skin.
Once dry, thread your shoelaces. Please refer to this for how to lace them.
Shoelaces should be removed every time you perform maintenance, and since Quoc Pham also offers Candy Shoelace as a replacement, you can switch them up to match your mood.
And with that, the shoe care process is complete! Everyone's shoes look absolutely sparkling!
Now you might be thinking, "Great, I can wear these every day for three weeks!" If so, stop right there! That is a mistake!
For your favorite pair of shoes, let them rest for a day after a day of wear. This is the secret to making them last. While shoe care is generally recommended once every three weeks, if you've been riding on trails and they're covered in mud or dust, it's better to adjust your cycle to once a week depending on how often you use them.
Indifference is bad, and excessive devotion isn't ideal either; finding the right balance is what's most important.
