JOHN LOBB | Shoe care wisdom from Kunitomo Noritoshi, manager of "John Lobb Marunouchi" Gallery
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JOHN LOBB | Shoe care wisdom from Kunitomo Noritoshi, manager of "John Lobb Marunouchi" Gallery

<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | The John Lobb Way: Shoe Care Essentials
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Mr. Noritoshi Kunimoto, Manager of the John Lobb Marunouchi store, guides us through shoe care.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Daily Care: Essentially, brush off surface dust and finish with a dry cloth. There are no particular tricks, just a light, even touch.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Daily Care: For shoes with punching details, pay attention to the holes. The welts are also prone to dust accumulation, so be mindful. We recommend using a welt brush with a small head.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Daily Care: Finish by polishing the entire shoe with a shining glove. Also, always use a shoe tree when storing your shoes. Shoe trees serve to restore the shape and importantly absorb moisture.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Daily care can be as simple as removing dust, but once a month, use cream for a thorough treatment. Applying cream helps the leather adapt and soften, improving comfort. It also enhances the appearance with a sheen, and the difference over time between treated and untreated shoes becomes significant.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Brush the entire shoe to remove dust, then apply delicate cream. This hydrates the leather and also helps to remove some dirt. Wrap a lint-free cloth around your finger, take a small amount of delicate cream, and gently rub it in circular motions all over the shoe.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: For creased areas, move your hand along the creases to allow the cream to penetrate. After applying the cream evenly, let it sit for about 10 minutes. During this time, moisture will absorb and old cream or dirt will surface. After 10 minutes, use the same cloth (on a clean side) to dry-buff the entire shoe.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Next, let's apply nutrients like oils and color for color replenishment. Similar to delicate cream, take a small amount of cream on your finger and apply it in circular motions all over. Add a little more if needed.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Neutral is versatile, suitable for any color. However, as colors fade slightly over time, it's best to use a cream that closely matches the leather's original shade.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Once the cream is applied evenly, be sure to brush the shoe. There's no need to scrub vigorously. This ensures the cream reaches all the fine details, like the perforations and stitching. It also removes excess cream, making the final buffing easier.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: Apply a small amount of cream to the welt brush and brush the welts. Dust tends to accumulate here, making it difficult for cream to penetrate and prone to drying.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: After brushing, there's no need to wait. Use the same cloth (on a clean side) to dry-buff. Continue buffing until no more color transfers to the cloth. Leaving excess cream can prevent the leather from breathing and stain your trousers, so buff thoroughly.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Monthly Care: If the shoe feels smooth to the touch, you're done. If it feels sticky or resistant, it means there's still excess cream, so continue buffing. Excessive cream buildup can create an unnatural, coated sheen, altering the shoe's appearance, so be mindful.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: Waxing isn't strictly necessary, but it makes shoes look more beautiful and elegant. The areas to polish are generally the toe and heel, considering the overall balance. Polishing the front and back creates a harmonious look. Wax applied to areas that flex during walking can flake off, so the toe and heel, which have internal structure, are ideal.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: For applying wax, we recommend a smooth, lint-free shirt fabric. When wrapping the cloth around your finger, ensure it's taut and wrinkle-free.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: John Lobb wax is used by adding a few drops of water to emulsify it.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: Use only a very small amount.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: Apply the wax with your finger in circular motions. This smooths the leather's texture, allowing light to reflect evenly, so it won't shine immediately. If the wax feels sticky, emulsify it with a few drops of water.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: If you make a mistake, the surface won't shine, or the new wax may scrape off the existing layer, causing it to peel. In such cases, you'll need to remove all the wax first.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Finishing Wax: For shoes with playful designs, you might opt for a higher shine. However, over-polishing dress shoes can diminish their elegance. Be mindful, though, as you might find yourself wanting more shine as you get used to it, and it can become an obsession (laughs).
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Notes on Using Shoe Care Products: Just like human skin, moisture and oil are crucial. Without cream, the leather will dry out, leading to cracks, especially in areas under tension. While this is inevitable over time, neglecting care accelerates it. Proper care maintains the upper's condition, allowing you to wear your shoes for 10 years or even longer.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Notes on Using Shoe Care Products: Using cream does not cause discoloration. You can broadly categorize brown creams as 'dark brown,' 'medium,' and 'light brown.'
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Notes on Using Shoe Care Products: For removing dust, applying cream, and grooming suede, use a firm bristle brush (pig bristle). For the finishing touches, a soft goat bristle brush is recommended. While a hard brush is also fine, many prefer the feel of a soft goat bristle brush. The final result is the same regardless of which you use. A shearling shining glove is also recommended for finishing.
<strong>JOHN LOBB</strong> | Notes on Using Shoe Care Products: Crucially, always use separate brushes for removing dust and applying cream. Using the same brush will transfer both dust and cream onto the leather. It's also advisable to separate brushes by color – generally, black and brown are sufficient. Neutral colors can typically be handled by a brown brush. However, for white shoes or light-colored shoes like beige, it's best to have a dedicated brush.
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JOHN LOBB | Shoe Care Essentials Guided by Noritoshi Kunimoto, Manager of John Lobb Marunouchi Store - Gallery

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