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Back-to-School Shoe Care: Get Your Footwear Ready for Fall

August 01, 2026

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to prep your footwear for fall. Learn how to clean, condition, polish, and protect your leather shoes and boots for the Canadian season ahead.

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How to Care for Luxury Designer Leather Goods

August 01, 2026

Luxury designer leather goods require special care. Learn how to clean, condition, protect, and store your high-end leather items the right way with premium products from Valentino Garemi.

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How to store leather articles!?

June 25, 2018

What is the best way to store your precious leathers when the seasons change? Although it may be tempting just to toss the winter boots to the back of the closet and hang the leather jacket on the nearest hook, a little time and thought now will ensure your leather attire will be refreshed and ready when next the wind blows cold and the snow flies. You have invested much in your leather wardrobe, and we gathered some wise advice to keep that investment returning dividends to you for many years into the future.

Burgol nubuck Saphir Suede

The Differences between Suede and Nubuck Leather

April 16, 2018

Suede is a special type of leather, created when a full hide is split and the interior fibers are exposed. Because suede is not full-grain, it is thinner and more fragile than other leathers. It also has a unique texture, not smooth but napped, and is very soft and supple. The nap can range from a tightly packed, velvety feel, with short, plush fibers, to a rougher more casual look, with longer fibers. Another variety of suede is produced by abrading smooth leather until the characteristic nap results. This manufactured napped leather is known as nubuck, and is typically more durable than the split-hide as it is thicker, but it is usually more expensive.

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Choosing the correct Saphir product - When To Use Reno'Mat And When To Use Renovateur ??

March 26, 2018

We have been discussing a number of the products made by the French company Saphir over the past few blog posts. One question that you may be asking is how to make the decision between using Saphir Reno’Mat or Saphir Renovateur. An application of Renovateur also can be an all-in-one experience, permitting you to clean and polish to your desired shine without using other polish or waxes. Use each for its intended purpose and these effective and high quality French products will care for smooth leathers effectively, adding years of enjoyment to your ownership of leathers cared for with Saphir.

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Leather Furniture - How to Care - Where to buy Sets and Kits

March 26, 2018

It can be very overwhelming when you own leather furniture to know the proper products to use to keep your furnishings looking like the day you purchased them. Kits come in all forms, the important thing to look for is something that comes with a cleaner, conditioner, protectant and most importantly a tool of some sort to attain the finished product you desire. Visit the store to purchase this kit or to search for the one that is ideal for your needs. The store is stocked with the top names in leather care such as Saphir, Avel and Famaco and there will be everything you require to meet these needs at a click of the mouse. As an added bonus, purchases over $85 will receive free shipping plus a cleaning glove.

Crepe Brush Saphir Saphir Renovateur

How to care for everyday shoes or boots.

March 22, 2018

Take care of the shoes you wear daily and they will take care of you. Saphir also has a wonderful Crepe Brush for napped leather -- suedes and nubucs --which uses rubber to gently clear and rejuvenate the nap. Shoes that are daily pampered remain strong with smooth, undistressed leather, looking good for years and achieving a healthy, burnished patina. We have cedar shoe trees that absorb and deodorize -- great investments for the longevity of your shoes. For some stunning examples of the difference using Saphir product can make in the look and feel of your favorite shoes, check out this flickr photostream, the handiwork of shoeshine artisans at ShoeshineUK.

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Avel Leather Care Products

March 22, 2018

The products would feature and develop must be the best available in the world. Breathing new life into names that had meant the highest quality for more than a century means Avel extends the best in metal, tile and wood care into the hands of those who demand the finest for their homes and possessions. The inferior products one can find at the discount and grocery stores or even in leather shops pale in comparison to the Avel offers at Valentino Garemi. Premium leather care options sourced from Avel stocked at Valentino Garemi include the Saphir and Saphir Medaille D’or 1925 ranges, leather cleaning, conditioning and polishing products that received some of the highest praise and important awards over the past 100 years. Chances are great that you will find exactly the leather care products you deserve for your valued footwear, bags, furniture and other items within the Avel lines here at Valentino Garemi.

nubuck Saphir Suede

How To Clean Suede and Nubuck With Saphir Products

March 21, 2018

Suede and nubuck have special needs when it comes to cleaning, beautifying and protection. Valentino Garemi carries several high quality products within the Saphir line that clean and maintain these soft, textured leathers. Just like a pencil eraser the edge of the Gommadin crumbles as it is rubbed across an unwanted patch of soiling, absorbing the dirt or oil and allowing it to be brushed away with the rubbery bits. After the cleaner has dried the Saphir Crepe Brush can be used on both suede and nubuck, to maintain and improve the look of the texture on the shoe, boot or other leather product by raising the nap. Gently rub over shiny areas and see the compressed leather fibers release back into a fluffier look.

Medaille D’Or Saphir

The Difference Between Saphir Medaille D’Or And Saphir Products

March 21, 2018

When you are looking for superior shoe and leather care products it is no surprise the name Saphir is mentioned frequently. The Gold Medal, or Medaille D’Or, was awarded to the Saphir products entered into the 1925 International Exposition held in Paris. Because of the high quality of the polishes and other products honoured in Paris this range has withstood the test of time and is still offered virtually unchanged to discerning owners of leather today. These products can be for shoe care but they also extend into textile and synthetic care, hence the different formulations. Both Saphir lines will impress even the skeptic with their performance and economy of use. Because of the outstanding quality of the ingredients a little goes a long way. Buy and use either line with confidence.

Avel leather care Saphir

Caring for Leather: Five Items Everyone Forgets

March 21, 2018

We all know that boots and shoes can benefit from regular cleaning, conditioning and polishing with high quality leather care products. But many other leather items that work hard for us in our daily lives also could use a cleaning and conditioning routine. Clean and condition belts at least once monthly and see how much they improve your fashionable look while lasting years longer. Make time every time you clean and polish your shoes to check your most used bags; every two weeks would be a reasonable routine for bags used often. Ensure these beautiful and expensive small leathers continue to serve you well for years by using the high quality products from the French leather experts at Avel / Saphire, including color restorers, de-salters and creams for even the most delicate, buttery leathers. Try a natural product like Woly Natura Lemon Cleaner to insure a healthy, safe and breathable living area even after a thorough leather cleaning of household items. Be sure to clean and condition after use or at least yearly.

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How to Clean and Maintain Sports Equipment

March 20, 2018

Late summer is a great time to take inventory of your and your family’s sports equipment, including taking the time to repair, condition and properly store the items so they are ready the next time you need them. Many sports use padded protective items like shoulder guards, shin guards and helmets. Often protective equipment and the tools of your favorite sports are made of leather, as are the all-important footwear individualized to the different sports. With proper care most sports equipment can last for many seasons to come, and with a little planning, the proper products and a judicious application of time and elbow grease your equipment will remain in the game.