We just posted a new guide on How to Clean Suede Shoes. Click the below link to view the guide.

Saphir Medaille d'Or is unquestionably the best shoe polish available in the world. Crafted in small batches in Angouleme, France, the Medaille d'Or Shoe Polish uses the same formula and all-natural ingredients as it did when it won the "Gold Metal" at the Paris International Festival in 1925. Saphir's commitment to crafting the finest shoe polsih possible is evident when the product is used on one's shoes. The difference is not just the difference in finish, but in how the shoe wears during its lifetime.

The difference in Saphir Shoe Polish is not just in the quality of the waxes in pigments, but how the various products are designed to penetrate the leather to deliver essential nourishment to the leather. A very easy experiment can be performed to effectively show the difference amongst polishes: simply apply a neutral polish to a piece of paper. How well the polish penetrates the can easily be observed by how it saturates the paper.

To create this comparision, I went to my local shoe repair shop and purchased as many available wax and cream polishes they had available in neutral. (Note: this particular experiment will not work with a pigmented polish because the saturation cannot be observed). The top row represents the other brands I was able to purchase. Two waxes and two creams.

The bottom row is various Saphir Shoe Polishes from the Medaille d'Or Collection. As you can see, the two cream polishes do not penetrate the paper at all. Using these creams to polish you shoes, no nutrients are being delivered to the leather -- you are essentially just rubbing waxes on the surface of the shoe. The Kiwi and Lincoln Waxes only demonstrate mild penetration. None are impressive when compared to Saphir Medaille d'Or (bottom row).

Saphir Shoe Polish Penetrates Deep into Leather to Deliver Essential Nutrients and Nourishment

The Saphir Shoe Polishes, on the other hand, penetrate deep into leather to deliver essential nutrients that keep leather moisturized and prevent cracking. However, amongst the different Saphir products, you will see different degress of penetration.

The Saphir Cordovan Polish, for instance, does not penetrate as deep as the others. This is because if the polish were to penetrate too deep into the pours of cordovan, it could cause the fibers to expand, thereby compromising the tight, closed fiber/pore structure unique to Cordovan. For this reason, we do not recommend using Wax or Cream polishes with Cordovan.

The Saphir Renovateur and Saphir Cream Polish both penetrate deep into the leather, as shown by their saturation of the paper. These two products are designed to deliver maximum nutrition deep into the leather. The Wax Polish still penetrates, but not as deep as the creams. If this photograph were taken after the paper dried, you would see that the Wax Polish thickest wax layer, again, by design.

As you can see, all shoe polishes are not created equally. With Saphir Medaille d'Or, though, rest assured that you are choosing the absolute best when caring for your shoes.

Regular maintenance of one's shoes can dramatically extend their lifetime. A well-made pair should easily last a decade or more. Many more, if cared for properly. Regular maintenance is essential to the long-term health of shoes. Since leather is an organic material, it needs to remained both nourished to keep from drying and protected from the elements.

Saphir Shoe Polish, specifically the Medaille d'Or range, is the absolute best polish one could use on their shoes. Whether you wear Allen Edmonds or John Lobbs, good shoes require good shoecare products. Saphir's shoe polish is unquestionably considered the best by shoe afficionados.

In addition to regular maintenance, more extensive semi-annual mainteance can make a dramatic difference in the finish of your shoes. Consider this more like a annual check-up or physical, semi-annual mainteance is designed to provide deep, intensive cleaning and nourishment that, performed more often, would overwhelm the shoe leather.

After collaborating with many shoecare afficionados and the owner of Saphir, we have designed a "Presidential Shoeshine" semi-annual regiment and posted a thorough, step-by-step guide. Our Presidential Shoeshine is appropriate for all calfskin shoes and, especially, for shoes being initiated into an all-Saphir shoecare regiment.

Click the below image to view the full tutorial.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Saphir Cordovan Shoe Polish to our expansive selection of Saphir Medialle D'Or shoe polishes. Saphir Medialle D'Or is widely considered to be the best shoe polish in the world. Most of the top-tier shoe manufacturers in the world private label their polish from Saphir (including John Lobb). Saphir's Cordovan Shoe Polish has been specially formulated for the unique requirements of this special leather.

Shell Cordovan is a specialty leather manufactured by only a few boutique tanneries worldwide. It is obtained from horses imported from Cordoba in the United States and crossed with wild horses of the Dakota. Only a small, specific portion of the back hide is used, the rest being utilized for furniture. Cordovan is different from calf in that it is not actually a hide; shell cordovan is actually the membrane located beneath the hide. As a result, Shell Cordovan is not porous and completely waterproof. Shell Cordovan is known for its waterproofness and robustness and is popular in urban environments prone to bad weather.

The skins are stored for months in barrels of oil. The natural color is blood red, a very dark burgundy, but Shell Cordovan is can also be found in other finishes. Shoes constructed from Shell Cordovan are rare, but are easily to spot. The smoothness of the leather is almost immediately distinguishable from calf. Because of the robustness of Shell Cordovan, the absence of any distress caused by normal wear will be absence.

Despite its durability, the highest-quality shell cordovan still needs to be properly maintained. Enter Saphir's Shell Cordovan Cream - a unique blend of bee's wax, pine turpentine, neatsfoot oil, and a high concentration of pigments. As with all of Saphir's Medialle D'Or shoe polishes, Saphir's Cordovan Cream is crafted from only the finest natural ingredients. It is available in four colors: neutral, cordovan (a deep blood red), dark brown, and black.

Polishing your Shell Cordovan shoes is easy. I recommend first using Saphir's Saddle Soap to clean and remove any dirt that has accumulated since your shoe's last polishing. Allow the shoes to completely dry before applying the Saphir Cordovan Cream. Work the polish into the leather with a dauber or chamois. Allow the polish to dry for about 10 minutes before buffing it off with one of our horsehair brushes.

If you have invested in fine cordovan shoes, they will certainly last you a lifetime. With proper care, you can make sure that they also look good for a lifetime!

If you are anything like me, you enjoy wearing suede shoes year around. Suede shoes, though, rank as some of the most difficult shoes to take proper care of. Because suede is a more robust material than calf, it does not scuff and show wear quite as easily, thus lending themselves to slightly more abuse (at least my shoes). Magnifying this additional abuse is the fact that, until this experiment, I did not have a routine for cleaning my suede shoes. Brushing my suede after each wearing might help a little, but, inevitably, I would end up with suede shoes too dirty to wear.

How to Clean Suede Shoes

Suede shoes are actually easier to clean and maintain than calf -- if you have the proper tools. Saphir's Medaille d'Or (MDO) shoe polishes are the best in the world, so it would be of no surprise that they also have the best suede cleaner. Saphir Omni'Nettoyant Suede Cleaner is a robust suede cleaner and stain remover. Combined with Saphir Suede Eraser and Renovateur Suede Spray, it has never been so easy to renew your suede shoes.

What you need:

Before Pictures

I purchased these Rider Boots for my trip to Italy once I learned that it would be raining the first few days were were there. Originally, I had been planning just to wear some slippers. In retrospect, to only travel with slippers would have been a bad idea. The grape rubber sole of these shoes were incredibly comfortable and, combined with the waterproof suede, performed incredibly well in the rain. However, note how dirty these boots have become after two weeks of travel in Italy. There was large dirt marks on the back of the shoe and water marks and more dirt on the front vamp. Brushing the shoe alone with a suede brush would not remove this deep, embedded dirt. The second set of Ferragamo loafers are probably two years old and have never been cleaned. You can see how dirt has become embedded in the heals.

[Picture of the Saphir Products]

Step 1: Work out Any Difficult Spots with the Gommadin Suede Eraser

The Omni'Nettoyant is going to clean the majority of the embedded dirt from suede. However, first work any particularly difficult spots with the Gommadin Suede Eraser. Hold the Gommadin firmly in one hand and use it to "rub" the tough spots out of the suede. It is normal for the Gommadin to crumble during use (just brush the shavings off with your Suede Brush). Below is a picture of me using the Gommadin with a different pair of shoes.

Step 2: Clean Shoes with Saphir Omni'Nettoyant

Dilute about one capful per ounce of Saphir Omni'Nettoyant in room-temperature water. Then, using the included cleaning brush, thoroughly scrub the shoes. Work the Omni"Nettoyant into the suede producing a nice lather. If the solution is not lathering very easily, add some additional Omni to the water (however, you do not want it to be too strong). Spend extra time working the areas of the shoes that are particularly soiled.

Step 3: Wash Shoe with Warm Water to Remove Omni'Nettoyant Solution

After you have worked a rich lather using the Omni and brush, empty the solution, rinse your brush, and refill your bowl with warm water. Then, using this warm water, work the shoes over again removing the Omni'Nettoyant from the suede. Here you are "washing" additional dirt from the shoe. I did this at a sink, even briefly spraying the shoe with water. Once the brush is no longer producing a lather on the shoe, you know that you have removed all of the residual Omni'Nettoyant. Pat the suede with a dry towel to remove excess water and leave the shoe to dry.

Step 4: Allow to Dry

After you have washed the shoe of the remaining Omni'Nettoyant, allow them to dry thoroughly. I left my shoes in a room overnight and finished the next morning.

Step 5: Brush with Suede Brush

After the shoes have dried, firmly brush them with a hard-bristle suede brush in order to straighten or re-fluff the pile. The will prepare the shoe to receive the Saphir Renovateur Suede, ensuring that all of the fibers are sprayed. If you were to just spray the shoe without first brushing, many of the fibers would be pressed down and, therefore, not receive an even spray.

Step 6: Apply MDO Renovateur Spray

Saphir's Medaille d'Or Renovateur Suede & Nubuck Spray waterproofs and recolors suede while its Almond Oil renews the beautiful silky shine unique to suede shoes. Available in black, neutral, dark brown, and medium brown, if a color is not available that closely matches the finish of your suede, just use the neutral. Since my Rider Boots are lighter than the lightest Saphir spray, I used the neutral.

I highly recommend doing this outside, as the fumes from the aerosol are quite strong. Simply hold the spray 10 to 15 cm away from the shoe and apply an even coat. As long as you do not fully saturate the suede, you shouldn't have to worry about applying too too much. Just don't get carried away.

After completed, allow the shoe to dry for another day. Again, I recommend leaving them someplace that has good ventilation, as the fumes can be quite strong.

Step 7: Apply Final Brushing

After the Renovateur Suede Spray has completely dried, again brush the pile with a hard-bristle suede brush. This will restore the original texture of the suede. After this, your renewed suede shoes are ready to reenter your circulation!

After Shots

Below are pictures of the Rider Boots and Ferragamo loafers after the cleaning. There are no visible dirt marks or scuffing, and you can see that the original color has been renewed. All water spots were also removed. The difference is quite remarkable and these pictures do not fully illustrate the "shine" that the Almond Oil from the Renovateur Spray has added.

The Ferragamo loafers needed a little more work given how old they were and the fact that they had never been cleaned. However, those to, came out quite nicely given my prior neglect. I may try a second cleaning with the Omni'Nettoyant and then spray them with the Middle Brown Saphir Renovateur Spray.

If you make a point to clean your suede sues using this regiment two to three times a year, you should be able to keep your suede shoes looking good as long as your entire collection. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to email us at customerservice@hangerproject.com. It is always our pleasure to respond.

Everybody loves a good shoeshine, especially the guys over at Esquire Magazine. This past week, Rickey Thornton (you'll remember him from our first "exhibition" post on the Saphir luxury shoe polishes) and I headed to New York to preach a little shoe love. Rickey is probably the best shoe guy I have come across and the Saphir shoe polishes are unquestionably the best shoe polishes in the world. Together, who could resist an offer for some shoe love?

Our hope was certainly not the editors of any magazines. Nick Sullivan, fashion editor of Esquire Magazine and an all-around incredible man, was one of the first in New York to jump at the opportunity to have us drop by their offices and demonstrate the magic of the Saphir shoe polishes. If I thought that my small scuff was a test for the Saphir polishes, Nick had something altogether different in store for us. You see, he had just received a pair of Church's shoes back from the shoe repair store around the corner from the Hearst offices. These guys are not B. Nelson's Shoes (best shoe repair in the city), and subsequently returned his shoes in a condition that would have had most men just throw them in the garbage. However, luckily for us, Nick held onto them out of nostalgia.

Enter me, Rickey, and the Saphir Shoe Polishes. Nick, not quite knowing what to make of our "absolutely the best" claims, decided to take some pictures of his shoes before and after Rickey put the Saphir MDO polishes to the test.

Check out how the Saphir Polishes performed below. Needless to say, we were at the Esquire offices for quite some time spreading our love for these incredible shoe polishes from France.

After a few months of incredibly-strong sales of our luxury shoe polishes by Saphir, I decided to take a trip up to New York to introduce it to some editors of Men's magazines. And I thought what better way than by flying the best shoe guy up there with me (Rickey Thornton, Morning Glory Shoe Service) to perform spectacular shines with it.

You may ask how things went -- well, incredibly well. The editors at all of the magazines enjoyed greatly their shoe love. What I can report is that although there are more shoe shine stands in New York than any place I have ever seen, they are not nearly utilized enough because some shoes were in desperate need of some care.

Luckily, it was the perfect job for Saphir Renovateur. If you have only one shoe care item, this is the one to have. Most importantly, it restores the vital moisture to leather, preventing it from drying and, eventually, cracking, which is about the worst damage that can occur to a pair of shoes. What makes this product even better is that it can be used on any pair of shoes, regardless of finish, and can achieve quite a nice shine.
 

Hopefully you'll be reading more about The Hanger Project soon in your favorite magazine!

Also, special thanks to Nick at B. Nelson's Shoes for lending me his portable shoe shine stand.

After receiving my samples of the full line of Saphir Médaille d'Or luxury shoe polishes, I was very excited to actually see how they perform. Saphir's accolades place the MDO collection as the best available anywhere, but how do they actually perform on the track? No better person to test than the best "shoe guy" I know: Rickey Thornton at Morning Glory Shoe Shines.

I am quite proud to know Rickey. I "spotted" him back at my FTI days working in the Trammel Crow Building. Having long been a shoe aficionado, I know a good shine when I see one. That is why the first time Rickey shined my shoes was the last time I used someone new. He is nothing short of incredible and has taken care of all of my shoes ever since. I regularly take him my shoes by the suitcase. His other clients probably think I am crazy, but they probably have no idea the talent they have before him (my assessment is that he is regularly over-qualified to shine the majority of the shoes he works on).

Rickey is now across the street, having upgraded his booth, at the JPMorgan Chase Building in downtown Dallas, should anyone be in the neighborhood. He is right next to the Starbucks.

So, I was excited to have him try out the new Saphir MDO Polishes. Just my luck, while leaving my house, I scuffed one of my favorite pairs of Grenson loafers on my way out (see below). Just the challenge we needed for this experiment.

My Grenson's needed a good polish and, because of their new scuff, needed it badly. We decided to start with the Saphir Pommadier cream shoe polish, becuase it has the highest concentration of pigment, then use Saphir Renovateur to add some additional nourishment for the leather, and then finish up with the Saphir Pâte de Luxe Wax Polish for a nice high-gloss shine.

Coat #1 - Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish

Rickey started with the Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish to help restore the pigment saturation of my out-of-shape shoes. In addition the "test scuff" with which I had just previously gifted the shoes, these needed work everywhere. We started out by applying the Pommadier Cream Polish directly onto the scuffs and rubbing it into the leather. Then, we followed-up by applying it to the entire shoe. The cream goes on very nicely and doesn't require a much. The higher-concentration of pigment was immediately noticeable to Rickey.

Coat #2 - Saphir Renovateur Cleaner and Conditioner

There are many different uses for the Reovateur, all of which we cannot get into here. Perhaps for a later post. This product is quite unique -- I have never seen a product quite like it before. The secret is in its base ingredient - Mink Oil. Leather dries out over time, and this is he ideal product for restoring leather's proper moisture. In this, it is more a conditioner than a cleaner in the proper sense that we use the word.

Rickey applied Renovateur between the Cream and Wax polishes for an added bit of nourishment that these shoes unquestionably needed.

Coat # 3 - Saphir Pâte de Luxe Wax Shoe Polish vs. Lincoln Polish

Right when you open the Saphir Pâte de Luxe Wax Polish you notice the attention to detail. Every tin comes with a aluminum foil seal at the top. details like this I love. Then the next thing you notice is the aroma -- that of pine trees. The product just smells exceptionally, and this is because of the all-natural turpentine base that comes from pine trees.

Second, you can immediately see how lighter and "greasier" the Saphir MDO wax is vs. an ordinary wax polish due to the higher concentration of natural oils. Just look at the difference in sheen between the two (bottom left). This quality is even more evident when you actually spread the polish on your shoes -- it spreads like butter on a hot pan. Beautifully. It doesn't take much of the product.

Third, just look at the higher concentration of pigments (bottom right). Wax polishes do not have the same concentration of pigment than cream shoe polishes, but the Saphir MDO Pâte de Luxe has a substantial concentration. So, not only can it create an incredible mirror-polish, but it does a better job of revitalizing the color saturation of the leather.

Polishing Notes - The Result

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. See below.

All of the scuff marks have all but completely disappeared and the mirror-shine is incredible. Hard to believe that they are even the same shoes!

But don't take my word for it! Try Saphir's Luxury Shoe Care Products for yourself!