FOOTWEAR, BAGS AND BELTS

Here we introduce you to our most used materials to take you a little deeper into our world and explain the best tricks to keep your Alma shoes in perfect condition.

SUEDE AND CROSTA

Suede and split leather are two of the most used materials at Alma en Pena. Both are 100% leather. Suede is goatskin and split cowhide. Both are soft and elegant leathers, suede with a finer touch than split leather, timeless and sophisticated, perfect for any style. On the other hand, they are delicate leathers and sensitive to scratches, friction with other materials, humidity and stains.

To avoid damaging the skin, it is important to use products that do not contain alcohol or any abrasive product. That is why, depending on the type of stain we want to treat, we must take into account different aspects and products to use:

 

PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR SUEDE AND SPLIT LEATHER:

-BRUSHES: with firm but soft bristles so as not to scratch the skin.

-MICROFIBER WIPES OR WIPES: moistened with water and neutral PH soap. It is important that the cloths or cloths that we are going to use to clean the footwear are colorless. Otherwise, when rubbing it on the leather, we can dye the shoe and transfer its color to the leather.

-SPRAYS:

*Sanitizing spray: for the inside of the shoe. Avoids odors by reducing foot perspiration and the appearance of fungus.

*Spray sole cleaner: for a deeper cleaning of heel and sole

 

HOW TO COMBAT STAINS ON SUEDE AND SPLIT LEATHER:

-DIRT AND DUST STAINS: Suede and split leather can become stained for different reasons. The daily use and its proximity to the ground when walking, the environment, the weather ... but they can also darken due to the dust from being stored in shoe cabinets or closets and contact with other shoes. The best thing to do in these cases is to gently brush the leather with a toothbrush, for example, then wipe with a damp cloth and, finally, let them air dry. Never store wet shoes.

-Stains caused by scuffs and scuffs: The daily use of your shoes means that we rub them against other surfaces, hit them with an object or step on them unintentionally. This causes small scuffs and dirt stains and the easiest and most effective way is to use an eraser to reduce or even eliminate them.

-GREASE, OIL AND WET SPOTS: Wet spots can be more difficult to remove. That is why we must be more careful not to make them worse or damage the skin when trying to remove them. One of the most effective formulas for this type of stains is ammonia reduced in water. Once we have the mixture, we rub gently with a soft brush, remove the excess with a damp cloth and finally let it dry in the air, without keeping or covering the shoe.

 

NAPA

Nappa leather is a fine, smooth, soft and supple leather. It is a tanned leather and usually comes from lamb, sheep, goat or calf. It is a timeless leather and at Alma en Pena you can find it in black and cream in the winter collections and in a variety of colors in the summer collections. Nappa leather is also called "full grain leather". This means that it comes from the outermost layer of the animal's skin and retains all its natural characteristics, hence its great softness to the touch, its breathability, resistance and aesthetic beauty.

As we have seen previously with suede and split leather, nappa is a delicate leather that is sensitive to rubbing, friction with other materials, humidity and stains.

 

PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR NAPA:

BRUSHES: as with suede and split leather, nappa leather shoes can also be brushed, but with very fine bristles that do not scratch the leather, since in the case of nappa leather, especially if it is light-colored, this could cause small scratches on the surface that are impossible to hide.

-MICROFIBER WIPES OR WIPES: nappa leather is more resistant to water than many other types of leather, even so, it is better to avoid prolonged exposure to it. Therefore, whenever we want to clean a fade or scuff, we will do it with cloths or cloths slightly moistened with water and neutral PH soap. Remember that the color of the cloth should be white or without any dye, to avoid color transfer to the footwear.

-SPECIALIZED CONDITIONER: A good conditioner will help moisturize the leather, prevent drying and cracking and restore its natural shine. Apply a specialized nappa conditioner every few months, or more often if the leather is exposed to harsher conditions.

-SPRAYS:

*Sanitizing spray: for the inside of the shoe. Avoids odors by reducing foot perspiration and the appearance of fungus.

*Spray sole cleaner: for a deeper cleaning of heel and sole

 

HOW TO COMBAT STAINS ON THE NAPPA:

-DIRT AND DUST STAINS: the fastest way, if we are talking about mud stains, dust or remains of any product, would be with a slightly damp cloth, rubbing gently and letting it dry in the air. Also with a fine bristle brush or even with a specialized leather cleaner.

-SECKS CAUSED BY Scuffs and Scuffs: one of the tricks that works best to remove or reduce scuffs on nappa leather shoes is to use a small amount of toothpaste and water with the help of a brush. Afterwards, remove and clean the product with a damp cloth and let it dry.

-GREASE, OIL AND MOISTURE STAINS: the best thing to do in these cases is to remove the stain as soon as possible with a damp cloth. If it has dried or has remained embedded, try with a brush, neutral soap and lukewarm water.

 

DIVA

The name of this material has been chosen very conscientiously, because I imagine that if you are a regular "Alma customer" you already know our super metallic boots, hallmark of the brand, or if you are new here I invite you to take a look at them, I promise they will not leave you indifferent! You can also find this material in sandals, high heels or even moccasins.

It is made of 100% cowhide with metallic finish. It is a very resistant and durable material and very easy to maintain. As it is leather, you can follow the instructions described above for suede, split leather and nappa leather, but remember that in this case it is better not to use conditioners, as they could damage the metallic finish. Finally, remember never to leave your "Diva" shoes in the sun, as this may cause partial discoloration stains and damage to the surface.

 

RAFFIA, BRAIDING, STONES AND ORNAMENTS

The motto of our brand is "Dancing is dreaming with your feet" and as you can see, Alma en Pena's collections seem to have come, no more and no less, from a dream world where everything is possible. Braids, raffias, transfers, studs, beads, sequins, fabrics and endless ornaments that escape your imagination. Therefore, Alma en Pena footwear requires special care to provide them with a long life at the service of your feet.

We advise you to treat and use them with care, store them in their case and check from time to time that all the stones and ornaments are in good condition, as it is normal that from use and walking they may rub, hit or come off. If so, go to our store staff or contact our Customer Service Department. They will provide you with the parts to be replaced.

In the case of braids or raffia, sometimes, during the production and manufacturing process, the cutting of the braided strips may cause some loose hairs at the ends or some braid fibers to come out of the braid. In these cases, tuck the ends or loose fibers back into place using an awl or needle, taking care not to puncture the base material or even seal it with a drop of glue or clear nail polish. 

But do not be afraid of these cares, Alma en Pena shoes are designed and manufactured to make you shine and for you to enjoy them, either in your daily life or in a special event. So, walk, Alma girl, feel the magic of our shoes, all of them hide a thousand stories to tell.

 

TEXTIL

Proper care of the garment is essential to prolong its life and maintain its aesthetic appeal. Our garments are characterized by being very special and have many details such as rhinestones, embroidery or rhinestones, which require special care when washing or ironing.

In general, we recommend hand washing with cold or warm water so as not to alter the fabric, color or quality of the garment. For more delicate or special garments, we recommend going to the dry cleaner. In certain cases, dry cleaning is advisable, especially for silk, wool, velvet, chiffon, pleated or embroidered fabrics, lace or natural leather. Consult the experts at your dry cleaner's for the option that best suits the characteristics of the garment.

We do not recommend tumble drying, as it reduces the life of the garment, increases the deterioration of fabrics and is not suitable for garments with rhinestones, rhinestones or hand embroidery. Air-drying is more convenient.

As for ironing, for fabrics such as linen or cotton we recommend steam ironing at high temperature. However, for synthetic fabrics, wool, silk or satin, we recommend ironing at low temperature and without steam. It is not advisable to iron garments with a stain, as the heat may set the stain. We recommend ironing inside out or with a fine white cloth, especially for garments with embellishments such as rhinestones or rhinestones. For fabrics with sequins or rhinestones it is advisable to iron inside out and with steam, without applying pressure on the fabric.

CLEANING AND CARE MANUAL