ChromexcelUpdated 4 months ago

Chromexcel is one of the most forgiving leathers out there. Hotstuffed with waxes and oils and heavy on pull-up (the temporary displacement of pigmented waxes and oils), Chromexcel needs little care. 

1. First, use a damp microfiber cloth (or an old 100% cotton t-shirt) to remove dust, dirt, gunk, or other debris from the upper leather. Remember to clean the welts; a damp Q-tip can remove stuck-on grime on the welts. After letting the leather dry, apply a neutral conditioner, e.g., Venetian Leather Balm, Saphir Renovateur, or Bick4. Second, apply an even layer over the uppers using a new microfiber cloth or an old t-shirt. Give each boot a good few minutes to let the conditioner soak in before you start vigorously brushing the leather for two to three minutes per shoe. If you accidentally scratch or scuff the uppers, you can easily blend the imperfection back into the rest of the leather through some simple elbow grease. Because the leather is treated heavily with pigmented waxes and oils, you can use your thumb to rub the scuff, thus redistributing the waxes and oils and blending the scratch back into the rest of the leather.
2. We inspect every pair numerous times before shipping. When clicking the leather, we carefully plan and map out the hide to give us matching pairs. Heavier creasing can be expected on these large bovine hides. We have written an article and have included a couple more from Horween regarding some of the attractions, acceptability, and characteristics of Chromexcel.
   
   Grant Stone's Attraction to Chromexcel
   History of Chromexcel
   Quality and Properties
   
   We do our best to cut away from the belly of the hide and use the shoulders of the hide for our vamp patterns. This helps cut down on the loose grain, but the hides are large. Calf and calf suede are two examples of an article that won't show loose grain; calf is naturally a smaller hide with tighter fibers, etc.

Leather care may seem daunting; however, with a simple care routine, your leather footwear will last a lifetime. While our footwear is not waterproof, they can take on water without damage. If the footwear gets wet, we suggest letting them dry out naturally overnight before wearing them again. Rotating your footwear helps elongate its lifespan. Using a pair of shoe trees is always helpful, and you can use a fan but don't use a heater; it can damage the footwear altogether. 

You'll want to monitor the salt because salt hurts the leather. If your footwear is exposed to salt, you'll want to take a moment to grab a damp rag to wipe down the exposed areas before eventually letting the footwear dry before wearing it again.

For more information about Chromexcel and how to care for it, please see this article from Stridewise's Complete Guide to Chromexcel.