PRODUCT CARE
WHAT’S IN MY BAG? SHOE CARE EDITION
Miistas shoes are handcrafted in Spain and Portugal using the finest EU-sourced materials. Leathers are imperfect by nature. You might notice subtle differences between products or small variations in the grain. These are what make each pair uniquely beautiful; they are not flaws.
As you make use of your shoes, they may naturally wear over time, wrinkles may appear on the instep through the natural movement of your steps or they may pick up scratches or marks. This is all part of the leather's charm and every pair becoming unique to their wearer.
We've put together a user-friendly guide with all the tips we have to offer on how to properly care for your Miistas. Over the years, we've picked up plenty of tricks to help keep your shoes looking their best over time. There is a common misconception that leather is waterproof. In some cases, they can be water resistant, however, in most cases, your shoes will not react well to being worn in excessive wet conditions.
Throughout the making of the products, our leather undergoes different treatments like coating, embossing, printing and dying to allow for varying textures and finishes. We pride ourselves on experimentation which can result in products that are beautifully crafted but need a bit of extra care.
At Miista we were brought up with the belief that you should shop less and repair your belongings to give them the longest life possible.
Here's our one-stop-shop for the product care tricks when it comes to treating your Miistas right.
1. Natural cow leather
Sometimes referred to as genuine or real leather, this material is one of Miistas favourites due to its durability and flexibility qualities. To maintain the pristine appearance of your Miistas, it is essential to avoid direct contact with liquids, as leather is porous and can suffer irreparable damage. While cow leather can withstand heat, it is advisable to keep it at a safe distance from radiators.
To clean your natural cow leather Miistas, use a soft microfiber cloth to remove excess dirt and dust. After cleaning, apply a thin layer of hydrating cream to rehydrate the leather. A neutral coloured hydrating cream is recommended to prevent altering the leather's colour. For black Miistas a black hydrating cream may also be used, however, if chosen, be mindful of other materials or colours surrounding the black leather areas (example: stitches on Malene Black).
2. Shiny Cow Leather
This specific type of cow leather undergoes a finishing process to give it a stand out shine. By polishing the top coat, the leather is left with a high gloss finish which is smooth to touch and rich in colour.
To clean your shiny cow leather Miistas, start by softly wiping away the excess direct with a cloth. Avoid any hard brushes as this could damage the top coating on the leather. Once the dirt and dust have been removed, use a sponge to apply hydrating cream specific for shiny leather. Apply a thin layer of cream evenly over your Miistas and leave them to completely dry. Once dry, use a cotton cloth to polish the leather, making sure you move around the shoe in circular motions.
3. Patent Leather
To achieve this specific finish on leather, we apply a clear gloss coating to the top layer which, when dried, creates its shiny, reflective surface. This coating means that when cleaning the shoe surface, you are treating the coating, not the underlying protected leather.
To clean your patent leather Miistas to maintain their shine, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the surface. Ensure the cloth is damp, not wet, and avoid using any hard cloths or brushes that could damage the coating.
4. Crinkle Leather
To achieve the desired shine for our crinkle leather Miistas, we apply a gloss finish. Before this finish is applied, the film coating is crinkled to create the embossed crinkle detailing on the leather's surface. As a result, when cleaning the shoe surface, you are treating the coating, not the underlying leather.
To clean your crinkle leather Miistas to maintain their shine, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the surface. Ensure the cloth is humid, not wet, as excess water may irreparably damage the leather. Avoid using any hard cloths or brushes to prevent damaging the coating.
5. Nappa Leather
Our Italian black nappa leather, known for its soft touch and durable surface, is the perfect upper for your Miistas. As a full-grain leather left in its natural state without coating, it occasionally requires rejuvenation with a silky-smooth nappa cream.
To clean your nappa leather Miistas to maintain their quality, clean the leather with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or dust. Apply your chosen nappa cream to the leathers surface, smoothing it over with a cloth. Allow for the balm to dry completely before use to ensure the leather is correctly rehydrated and the surface does not crack. We recommend using a black coloured balm to preserve the rich black colour of your Miistas.
6. Vegetable Tan Coloured Nappa Leather
Our Italian nappa leather, known for its soft touch and durable surface, is the perfect upper for your Miistas. As a full-grain leather, it's tanned with vegetable dye to achieve it's desired finish and it occasionally requires rejuvenation with a silky-smooth nappa cream.
To clean your vegetable tan nappa leather Miistas to maintain their quality, clean the leather with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or dust. Apply your chosen nappa cream to the leathers surface, smoothing it over with a cloth. Allow for the balm to dry completely before use to ensure the leather is correctly rehydrated and the surface does not crack. We recommend using a colourless balm to preserve the original colour of your Miistas.
7. Nappa Stretch Leather
To achieve the stretch on our durable nappa leather, we treat the top layer of leather with a complex process that incorporates an elastic lining to add elasticity.
To clean your nappa stretch leather Miistas, we recommend using a microfiber cloth to remove any excess dirt and dust. After removing, apply a thin layer of nappa leather cream and gentle rub into the surface of the leather.
If the item has a degrade effect, apply the cream only to the darker shades, as it can affect the lighter tones.
8. Brush Off Leather
This unique finish allows the product to adapt to the wearer. The leather is multi-tanned, initially in a lighter tan and then in a darker tan. It then undergoes a hand-brushing process to reveal glimpses of the underlying colour. Due to this multi-tanning process, as the leather wears and creases, the underlying colour becomes more visible, making each pair uniquely personalised.
To clean your brush off leather Miistas, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the leather surface. Ensure the cloth is damp, not wet. If you wish to reapply colour to the top tan, use the same colour tan as the top layer and avoid using hard cloths or brushes.
9. Distressed Leather
This unique finish creates a distressed look to the leather upper before it's even been worn. This is a deliberate effect giving an aged and vintage feel and is completed by hand through rubbing and brushing off the surface in typically 'worn' area's.
To clean your distressed Miistas, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the leather surface. Ensure the cloth is damp, not wet. Avoid using hard cloths or brushes.
10. Degrade Leather
Degrade boots are crafted from high-quality nappa leather and undergo a specialised final treatment to achieve their distinctive degrade effect. This effect is created by expertly spraying each shoe with a darker colour shade over a lighter base shade.
To clean your degrade leather Miistas, we recommend seeking professional treatment to preserve and extend the life of their colour. While a neutral hydrating nappa cream can be applied, it is crucial to exercise caution as an excessive amount of cream may alter the leather's colour.
11. Embossed Leather
The achieve the embossed finish on our leather we applying a combination of high pressure and heat to the cow leather. While this material is resistant to scratches and liquids, it is still advisable to keep it away from both to prevent potential damage.
To clean your embossed leather Miistas, first clean the surface with a soft microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or dust. After cleaning, apply a thin layer of neutral coloured nappa leather cream and allow it to air dry completely before wear.
12. Printed Patent Embossed Effect Cow Leather
To achieve this specific finish on leather, we firstly print the desired pattern before embossing it through a combination of high pressure and heat on the cow leather. Finally, it's finished with a clear gloss coating to the top layer which, when dried, creates its shiny, reflective surface. This coating means that when cleaning the shoe surface, you are treating the coating, not the underlying protected leather.
To clean your printed patent embossed effect cow leather Miistas to maintain their shine, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the surface. Ensure the cloth is damp, not wet, and avoid using any hard cloths or brushes that could damage the coating.
13. Pull-up Oily Leather
Pull-up oily leather has a distinctive grainy effect achieved by treating the leather with wax and oil. A unique characteristic of this treatment is that the colour lightens in areas where the leather is stretched. This type of leather is designed to change colour over time, so expect your Miistas to develop a unique appearance with wear.
To clean your pull-up oily leather Miistas, use a soft microfiber cloth to remove any dust. After cleaning, apply a colourless oil effect cream to the leather. Avoid pulling the leather too tightly to prevent unwanted stretching effects.
14. Grainy Leather
Grainy leather has a textured surface with a visible grain that has not been sanded or buffed and therefore maintains the leathers natural characteristics while still being soft to touch.
To clean your grainy leather Miistas, avoid any direct liquids or soaps on the shoe surface. Instead, use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to remove any visible dirt and dust. Once clean you can apply a thin layer of hydrating cream, either one that matches the colour of your Miistas or a neutral coloured one.
15. Suede Leather
Suede leather is susceptibility to water damage and wear due to its delicate surface. To maintain the pristine appearance of your Miistas, it is essential to avoid direct contact with liquids, as leather is porous and can suffer irreparable damage.
To clean your suede leather Miistas, use a suede brush to gently remove any dirt or dust. Additionally, you can clean them with a soft microfiber cloth and apply a suede-specific spray for optimal care.
16. Suede
Suede is susceptibility to water damage and wear due to its delicate surface. To maintain the pristine appearance of your Miistas, it is essential to avoid direct contact with liquids, as suede is porous and can suffer irreparable damage and stains.
To clean your suede Miistas, use a suede brush to gently remove any dirt or dust. Additionally, you can clean them with a soft and dry microfiber cloth and apply a suede-specific protector spray for optimal care.
17. Faux Suede
Our faux suede for your Miistas is made from a carefully woven synthetic fabric. Resembling the characteristics of real suede, with a more robust surface, the care procedure is very similar.
To clean your faux suede Miistas, use a recommended suede brush to wipe away dried dirt or dust. Be careful to not brush with too much pressure, the key here is to be very gentle, and to brush in the natural grain direction. For more aggressive staining, use a suede eraser on the affected area.
18. Crystal Textile
Some of our textile uppers are detailed with crystals to make them shine. Avoid touching the area's covered in crystals as much as possible. While they are securely attached to the underlying textile, they remain sensitive and therefore minimising contact will help preserve their pristine appearance and ensure their longevity.
To clean your crystal textile Miistas, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe away any dirt or dust from the surface, avoiding touching the crystals as much as possible.
19. Metal Zippers
The Metal zippers that we use on our Shoes may appear tough, but you must handle them with care to make sure of a lifetime of use.
For ease of zipping on and off your shoes with metal zippers, if the zip is located at the back of the boot, you should close it when you are standing. This allows your leg to be straight and in turn the zip will be too. This is less important if the zip is in the inside of the leg. If the zip gets stuck, you may rub a graphite pencil on the zipper for it begin to move again.
20. Leather Soles
We use Italian vegetable tanned leather soles in the premium Miista lines. Leather soles, if looked after, last a lot longer than other materials, and you can easily re-sole them when they become very worn. We add a small part of rubber at the toe tip of the shoes so they last even longer. Always remember, before wearing them for the first time, every pair of leather sole Miista’s come with a plastic cover, so please remove them otherwise this will damage the leather when worn.
For extending the lifespan of your leather soles, we recommend wearing them for a few months before taking them to the cobbler to add a thin rubber coating on the front sole to protect the leather.
21. Black Rubber Soles
Our more causal designs, mainly including our E8 range, are finished with a Black Rubber Sole. We add a tread to the sole for extra grip and friction as you walk.
To clean your black rubber soles, clean with a damp cloth when marks appear. If scratches or dust appear, first try a crepe rubber and scratch it against the sole to remove the mark. Once you do that, apply a thin coat of black cream for them to appear brand new.
We hope you found all the tips and tricks you needed to best care for your Miistas. After all, it's a love affair.
If you require any extra information for a specific style, please email our customer service team who will be happy to help at customerservice@miista.com.