Blog » washable
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How do I look after my Arche items?
Keeping your Arche shoes beautiful!
The manufacture of Arche creations in our workshops involves around one hundred skilled actions per shoe. Only two or three actions are necessary to keep them beautiful.
NUBUCKS
Arche nubucks have been carefully selected from our European suppliers and are made from calf leather; the grain has been polished to achieve their soft feel and typical velvet finish.
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If some of our nubucks have received waterproof treatment, we recommend that for most of them, you apply a water-proofing treatment yourself to maintain the quality of their finish. To do this, we recommend the regular application of a specific waterproofing spray.
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To maintain their finish and remove dust, simply clean them gently with a soft brush (nylon bristles) or a more abrasive suede brush (use with care).
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To deal with any superficial stains, it is best to gently clean with soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - taking care to rinse the area you have cleaned with clean water. Once dry (in open-air and away from a source of heat), finish the cleaning process by brushing the nubuck, it will thus recover its distinctive finish.
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We recommend the use of fine china clay for oily stains.
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Be careful to never use shoe-wax on nubucks, this will damage their velvet finish.
SMOOTH LEATHERS
The smooth leathers are made from skins produced by the finest European suppliers; they are all full-grain calfskin, lambskin, bull calf-skin and deer-skin leather, treated to achieve the correct grain effect.
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We recommend the regular application of a suitable water-proofing treatment to protect its refined finish. We recommend the use of leather-care cream or lotion products to maintain their typical softness and colour.
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Use a soft cloth or brush to remove dust.
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For superficial stains, apply soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - or a suitable leather shampoo to the affected area and then rinse with clean water. After leaving to dry in a ventilated area away from any source of heat, you should apply a specific leather nourishing cream and then polish with a woollen cloth or a reversed sheepskin glove.
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Please note, the choice of a high-quality shoe-wax is essential to avoid damaging the leather's softness and colour.
PATENT LEATHERS
Our patent leathers are rigorously selected for their softness, the full-grain calf-skin leathers are treated with a smooth varnish.
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The use of a face-cleansing cream is appropriate to maintain their shine.
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Alcohol-free skin-cleansing wipes can be used to remove dust and clean patent leather.
DESIGNER LEATHERS
Our designer leathers, whether with a printed finish or applied designs, are made from European origin full-grain calf-skin leather.
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Regular use of a leather water-proofing product is suitable to maintain their shine. Apply a specific leather nourishing cream to maintain resistance, softness and the brilliance of their colours; however, be sure to try the product first on a hidden part of the shoe to ensure that it doesn't smear the leather.
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Use a soft cloth or brush to remove dust from these designer leathers.
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Apply soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - or a suitable leather shampoo to the affected area and then rinse with clean water to remove superficial stains. After leaving to dry in a ventilated area away from any source of heat, you should apply a specific leather nourishing cream and then polish with a woollen cloth or a reversed sheepskin glove.
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Please note, shoe-wax may alter the printed finishes and should not be used at all.
SOLES
Our creations generally have soles made from a soft material: Lactae Hevea®, Formula Natural®, latex or rubber.
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The organic nature of soles made from pure hevea milk may sometimes lead to the apparition of white marks. Use a lint-free cloth with a bit of lemon juice or colourless vinegar to make these go away.
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Use soapy water as indicated to clean all soles.
Please note, chemical solvents will deteriorate the material of the soles: we strongly suggest that you do not use them.
What do I do if the colour fades?
The colours used by Arche each season are applied in dye baths during the tanning process resulting in a beautiful colour impregnated throughout the leather keeping their natural beauty. The intense colours of our creations come from the much sought-after subtle feel of our leathers are proof of their nature and authenticity.
Surface treatments are avoided to maintain the beautiful nature of these unique skins. Their colour intensity and pliable nature is therefore ideal, especially with our nubucks with their unique finish.
This degree of quality may sometimes lead to a slight transfer to other items of clothing or the skin which may be amplified by the acidity of the skin or residual dust on the surface after the polishing of the grain of the nubuck skins. This is a simple transfer and is not serious. A little soap and water is usually enough to remove any such marks on the skin. Avoid prolonged contact with water; humidity may increase any such transfer of the colours to clothing. Prolonged exposure to light-sources may fade the colour of the leather over time.
How durable is Arche footwear?
Our creations are developed to meet the highest quality standards, specifically those concerning the selection of raw materials.
All of our leathers are sourced from European suppliers, each of which respect all applicable ethical standards and respect the environment in the production of their premium leathers.
To ensure the typically brilliant colours which make up our Arche DNA our carefully selected suppliers use traditional tanning processes which are covered by the European REACH standards.
All of our creations are developed in our French creation studio which has been based in the Val de Loire region since 1968. The largest part of our creations are manufactured at the same site near to the city of Tours, a very small part of our collections are produced in other European workshops which we carefully supervise ourselves.
Every one of our creations is subjected to a final quality control process in our Chateau- Renault workshops before arriving in your hands.
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What are the best shoes for walking?
Finding a pair of comfortable, high end quality walking shoes can be difficult. Depending on the level of activity amount of walking you’re doing, your feet need to be supported and secure.
We have a wide range of orthotic friendly shoes, comfortable every day wear and stylish colours here at Grundy’s shoes.
The women’s Ara Munchen’s are weather resistant with their Gore – Tex lining, with a synthetic upper and faux fur border, the wool blend lining will prevent abrasions from all day wear. The rubber soles provide flexibility with the way you walk and create traction on a variety of surfaces which would be suitable for light walking. These are orthotic friendly, they come in a variety of colours, with or without a zip.
A popular style for men, the Keen Targhee are designed with carefully selected leather to last, the leather and performance mesh are waterproof. With a removable EVA foot bed and dual density EVA mid sole will provide superior comfort and extra support. Cleansport NXT offers a process that controls the natural odour within footwear, this is activated when the sweat contacts with the material.
A fan favourite, Ecco’s Biom Fjuel (unisex) have leather perforations for breathability; making it easy to wear whilst wearing all throughout the day, even when exercising. The lace up closure provides an easy on-off wear and a secure personalised fit, the low to ground construction will provide a natural position for each foot for ultimate walking comfort. Biom Fjuel vary in cashmere, sangria pink and a variety of black shades.
With a variety of unisex options, Propet Travelfit are a suitable for gentle walking and travelling; easy to pack in a suitcase and to wear whilst exploring. The firm heel of these sneakers will help reduce foot fatigue as well as the padded collar supporting your feet. Made with high performance rubber and EVA midsole; provides comfort, flexibility and durability on a variety of surfaces. Suitable for orthotics and for the wet and dry climates, available in shades of grey and black.
If you are unsure of what shoes are best suited for you, visit us in-store for our expert fitters who are happy to help find you the perfect shoe. We also have other blog posts available on foot health, general shoe care and even what shoe best suits your profession!
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Stocking Fillers!
If you're stuck on something to fill the stocking this Christmas, we've got you sorted! Why not grab a shoe from our Birkenstock EVA range, which are lightweight and washable. Or, there's our new Birkenstock care range, with products to pamper yourself after a long day.
