Saphir Médaille d'Or

Good shoe care starts with Saphir: one of the oldest, most traditional, and best shoe care product manufacturers in the world. The French brand has evolved in the nearly hundred years of its existence but has never lost its glory. The Shoe Care Shop was allowed a peek behind the scenes.

"The way you treat your shoes is the way you treat yourself," says Gael Birot, sales manager of what may be the best shoe care in the world: Saphir. The French brand, originally founded in 1920, won the Medaille d’Or (gold medal) at the Parisian fair. Since then, it has been called Saphir Medaille d’Or. Although nearly a hundred years have passed, it is still a leading brand when it comes to shoe care. Many years later, much has changed, but the product remains the same.

"We have a unique formula compared to any other shoe care products. The products are solvent-based rather than water-based. Solvent cleans and nourishes at the same time," explains Birot. The shoe care products are made of beeswax, a natural ingredient that nourishes and protects the leather. Additionally, the beeswax is also used to make your shoes waterproof. It's important to always use a shoe care product that contains beeswax. The creams are supplemented with seven other nourishing and natural ingredients, such as carnauba wax. Carnauba wax helps enhance the shine of the beeswax. If you've invested in quality shoes, invest in high-quality, natural shoe care products as well.

Anyone serious about their appearance should be serious about cared-for shoes. "For me, the look is the main reason to care for my shoes," says Birot. "But it also extends the life of the shoes. By taking care of your shoes, you avoid burnt stitching and leather cracks.

It may seem like an old, almost forgotten tradition - cared-for shoes - but there seems to be an increasing popularity for shoe care products. More and more people want to go back to basics, to a more authentic way. "We see it too," says Birot, "more and more websites selling shaving articles and clothing accessories asking for Saphir shoe care products." It's so popular that Saphir is growing by 10 percent per year. "Birot: "We sell most shoe care products in Russia, Japan, and the Netherlands."

Products

Since winning the award for their shoe care cream, Saphir has expanded its range. Although the traditional cream in a pot, Pommadier, is still the most popular, there are many other great products.

To name a few:

Saphir Pate de Luxe – a rich, high-gloss wax
Saphir Renovateur – to restore your leather
Saphir Pommadier cream – for recolouring and a nice velvet shine
Saphir Omni’Nettoyant – for cleaning soft leather, such as suede.

There are also special products for different types of leather, such as nappa and reptiles, as well as brushes for suede, shine brushes, and cloths. Shoe lovers can indulge themselves with the extensive range of Saphir shoe care products.

Especially for these enthusiasts, we have a Distinctivo Saphir shoe care valet. A high-quality box, specially developed and made for Saphir products. This beautiful box is functional, elegant, and equipped with all the luxury necessities of Saphir.