The best friend of our shoes

These shoes are my basic means of transport for all my adventures outside the home. In summer, my espadrilles accompany me along the shores and sandbanks, and in winter, it is my leather ankle boots that transport me through meadows and cobblestone paths.

There are some pairs that I have a special affection for. My favorite shoes are also the ones that accompanied me to job interviews and gave me confidence when I set out to find a new life in another city. Perhaps because of all their unconditional support, reinvesting in them seems like an act of loyalty to me.

It's not that my shoemaker, Francesc , always approves, but no matter how badly he sees it, he never loses the battle. He turns one of my shoes inside out with his skilled hands and inspects every detail of the sole and leather. I'm convinced that he will give me some constructive criticism, warning me that I was wrong to think that I could wear that jute shoe to a festival without destroying it. But despite his harsh assessments, I never see my shoemaker as an adversary, but rather as an advisor who always manages to bring back to life what I hold so dear.

Entering Cal Sabater 's shoe repair shop is like having the notion that quality things deserve to be fixed and cared for. That's why I always listen attentively to him from behind his counter, warning me not to always wait until the last minute to take care of something that is so important to me.

That is usually the image: I have probably pointed out to him, blushing, more than once that I had already brought him that pair of shoes I had just bought so that he could put some cuffs on them so that they would survive all my adventures. And even more likely, he has reiterated to me that a visit to clean them and keep them in good condition always prevents further damage.

I also learned this from my mother, who always insisted on spending some time on Sundays to thoroughly clean the leather, to keep my favorite shoes intact.

-- How to take care of your Naguisa? --

Your ankle boots, loafers or lace-up shoes are asking for some care. Cleaning and moisturizing them will extend their life for many years. So unlace them and invest a little time in caring for these shoes that make you feel so comfortable.

1.- Start by cleaning them thoroughly.
The first and possibly most important step in caring for your shoes is simple: keep them clean. Pick up a professional foam cleaner from your local shoemaker. ( Francesc from Cal Sabater recommended Combi Cleaner from the Pedag brand.) Using a damp (not wet!) sponge, gently rub the foam over your shoes, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies and remove any excess product. Let it dry naturally as these products usually contain a wax that helps seal and protect the leather.

2.- Apply the wax.
Once the shoe is dry, we put a little wax in the same shade as the leather (or colorless if we cannot find the same shade) and apply the polish all over the shoe.

3.- Brush your shoes to make them look new.
Once the leather has absorbed the wax, all you need to do is brush them with a natural bristle brush to give them back a brand new shine.

Thanks to Cal Sabater (Passatge del Mercat, 2, 08960 Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona)