Introduction to Shoe Care Crafted from beautifully selected leathers, Louis Vuitton shoes are the perfect blend of sophistication and savoir-faire, passed down through generations of dedicated craftsmen in Italy. These natural and living materials need to be regularly cared for so that you may fully appreciate their beauty and comfort for years to come. It is best to rotate your shoes every two days of consecutive wear. This will allow the leather fibres adequate air and rest. When not in use, store in the felts provided at purchase in a dry place away from any direct heat source. To preserve the shape of men’s city shoes, we suggest storing with a shoe tree after each use. Contact with water or products containing solvents, oily or abrasive elements should be avoided as they may cause unwanted staining or blisters. When putting on your shoes, a shoehorn is suggested to avoid damaging the material in the back of the heel. For proper maintenance, be sure to have the toplifts (the bottom of the heel, made generally in rubber, in direct contact with the ground) of your shoes changed periodically to prevent from becoming too worn down as this can become very slippery to the wearer. By taking care of your Louis Vuitton shoes in this way, you will be able to wear them for many years and fully appreciate their beauty and comfort. Do not hesitate to ask for advice in your nearest Louis Vuitton store, where our specialised sales associates are at your disposal to guide you and answer your questions. Smooth or Grained Leathers  For cleaning grained leather, wipe any surface stains with a soft damp cloth. Once the leather is dry, polish it in circular strokes using a high quality colourless cream and a soft cloth. Patent Leathers  Patent leathers can be cleaned with a soft dampened light coloured cloth and then dried with a clean cloth. To avoid colour migration, limit contact with other leathers or highly pigmented colours. Metallic Leathers  Metallic leathers can be cleaned with the help of a soft and dry cloth. Exotic Leathers Exotic leathers can be cleaned with a soft and dry cloth and then polished, in the direction of the scales, using a high quality colourless cream. These leathers are delicate and very sensitive to humidity. If at anytime they do come into contact with water, sponge them carefully with a soft absorbent cloth.  Goat Suede, Calf Suede and Nubuck Leathers Suede and nubuck leathers can be maintained with a soft shoe brush to preserve the velvety texture. If shoes have been in contact with water, please allow ample time to dry before cleaning. In case of superficial stains, a rubber brush may be used. Pony Styled Calf Leathers  These precious and delicate calf leathers have kept all their natural hair due to a special tanning process. The eventual colour shades thus demonstrate this authenticity. To clean pony styled leathers, use a soft and lightly dampened cloth and always respect the direction of the hair. Avoid repeated rubbing with abrasive objects (trouser hems, brushes…) which may alter the smooth appearance of the calf hair. Fabric Fabric and leather shoes, or fully fabric shoes, must never be washed by soaking in water or in a washing machine. This would cause damage or migration of colour and can detach the sole from the shoe. The textiles used at Louis Vuitton have a water repellent finish that limits the risk of stains. However, the lighter coloured textiles still remain susceptible to staining. Once your textile shoes have been cleaned, please leave them to dry in the air before putting them away in their felt pouch.  The cotton canvas can be cleaned with the help of a brush or a lightly dampened cloth.  The satin can be cleaned with the help of a very lightly dampened cloth using gentle circular movements. Because this is a delicate material, please avoid rubbing it too hard so as not to remove the anti-stain treatment. Further care should be taken not to scratch this fabric against abrasive surfaces. Made of goatskin or calfskin leather, suede insocks and linings are extremely delicate. They are specially treated to stabilise the colour pigments, but there is still a risk of colour release, which is due to their natural finishing.