Buying tip – Saphir Coated fabric lotion for corrected grain leather shoes

One of the newest products in Saphir’s Medaille d’Or range is the Coated fabric lotion. While its developed for care of coated canvas bags like those from Louis Vuitton, it works equally great to treat shoes made of corrected grain leather, to help prevent the plastic coating from cracking and keep it better looking.

Corrected grain leather in this case refers to the type of material where one has sanded down the outer grain surface, and covered it with a thin plastic coating. Different shoe brands call it different things, but some names are hi-shine, bookbinder, high-gloss etc. There’s two reasons for using this type of material, one is that it’s a cheaper way to make a uniform shiny look on leather, where one can take lower grade hides that wouldn’t be suitable for full grain leather that shows the surface.

Second is that it’s “care free” as those selling it may prefer to call it, but in reality it mainly means that it’s not possible to care for it in the same way as real full grain leather. Shoe cream or wax polish doesn’t work, you just smear it around, it’s not meant to be used on plastic. What most just do is to wipe corrected grain leather shoes off with a damp cloth every now and then, if even that.

Corrected grain leather looks shiny, has a dense surface without pores, and gets very pronounced creases that eventually crack. Picture: Reddit / Softcorn

Problem is that corrected grain leathers almost always have a lower lifespan than proper full grain leather, since the plastic coating eventually cracks, and then that’s it, you can’t repair it. Now there’s a great product to at least prolong the lifespan of plastic covered corrected grain leathers, while also cleaning it and making it look nicer. Saphir Medaille d’Or Coated fabric lotion.

As the name suggests, it’s developed for coated fabrics, especially the type of coated canvas used for a lot of luxury bags from companies like Louis Vuitton. Their classic monogram canvas seen on the top photo most would recognise. The Coated fabric lotion is made to dissolve dirt and light stains on the material, while containing carnauba wax for care and protection, and can be brushed up to a shine. Since the coated fabric surface is very similar to most corrected grain leathers, it’s ideal to use to do the same here.

So if you own shoes in high shine leathers or similar, don’t just leave as is until it cracks and are done with. Do what you can to also keep this alive and good looking as long as possible, for example for all Dr. Martens out there the Coated fabric lotion is perfect. While lifespan might not become the same as good quality full grain leather, you at least prolong it.

The lotion works great for all types of leathers or fabrics that have a plastic coating. Picture: Mr. Bull & Shine (top image: Saphir)