Collonil Dark Grey Suede Colour Reviver 729 – 100ml Nubuk plus Textile with Sponge

Description

Collonil Dark Grey Suede Colour Reviver 729 – 100ml Nubuk plus Textile with Sponge – for grey suede that has drifted off-colour in patches

Grey is the shade that goes wrong quietly. Dark grey suede rarely fades to a lighter grey, it drifts, picking up a brown cast on the toes and a bluish one where the light hits, and the result is a shoe that looks slightly dirty rather than obviously worn.

A dark grey suede colour reviver in a bottle is the sensible fix, because a drift like that is usually confined to a panel or two. This is Collonil Nubuk plus Textile in 729, a 100ml bottle with a sponge set into the neck, and that sponge lets you put colour on one quarter panel and leave the rest untouched. It cares for and refreshes the colour of suede, nubuck and textile alike.

Collonil have been looking after leather in Germany since 1909, and this bottle covers materials most colour products will not touch. They rate it for high-tech uppers too, which makes modern trainers fair game rather than a gamble.

Why choose this dark grey suede colour reviver?

• Treat one panel, not the whole shoe. A drifted toe or a bleached quarter can be corrected on its own with a sponge. An aerosol forces you to redo the entire upper simply to keep it even. That alone makes a bottle the cheaper option over a season.
• Works on textile as well as suede. Grey trainers are usually a mix of suede, mesh and synthetic panels. This bottle is rated for all of them, which is unusual and very useful on a mixed upper. Mesh, synthetic overlays and suede panels can all be treated in one go.
• Precision around light soles and stitching. The sponge applicator puts colour exactly where you aim it, so white midsoles and contrast stitching stay white. That is the single biggest advantage it has over a spray. Masking tape and a steady hand will get you the rest of the way.
• Refreshes colour and conditions together. It is a care product as much as a colour product, so the nap stays soft rather than stiffening. Suede that has been fed brushes up properly instead of matting down. Colour on a stiff nap never looks right, however good the match is.
• Rated for high-tech uppers. Collonil list technical materials among its uses, which covers a great deal of modern footwear. That takes the guesswork out of treating a running shoe.
• No cloud of overspray indoors. You can do this at the kitchen table without masking the room or opening every window. A hundred millilitres also lasts a good deal longer than an aerosol. There is no propellant to run out of before the colour does.

How to use the Collonil Dark Grey Suede Colour Reviver 729 – 100ml Nubuk plus Textile with Sponge

Grey shows every edge, so work from the centre of the faded area outwards. A hard edge is far harder to fix afterwards than a pale panel was.

1. Brush the suede clean with a suede brush and check that the shoes are properly dry.
2. Shake the bottle, then press the sponge cap down until it is just damp with colour.
3. Start in the middle of the faded panel and work outwards with light overlapping strokes.
4. Feather the edges into the surrounding suede so there is no hard line.
5. Add a second thin pass only if the panel is still lighter than the rest of the shoe.
6. Let it dry completely, then brush the nap up with a suede brush.

My tip as a shoe specialist

Judge grey suede in daylight, never under a bulb. Indoor lighting hides the brown cast that makes a dark grey look grubby, and it is that cast rather than the loss of depth that you are actually correcting. Do not soak the sponge either, because a nearly dry sponge gives you control while a wet one gives you a dark patch that takes days to even out. And if the shoes have white midsoles, run a strip of masking tape along the join before you start.

Specifications

At a glance

• Volume: 100ml bottle with sponge applicator
• Colour: Dark Grey 729
• Also listed as: Dark Gray 729 on the manufacturer label
• Type: Colour reviving and conditioning liquid
• Suitable for: Suede, nubuck, textile and high-tech uppers
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather and patent leather
• Applicator: Integrated sponge dispensing cap, plus a suede brush
• Properties: Refreshes colour, conditions the nap, precise application
• Brand: Collonil, Germany, established 1909
• Price: £9.99

Frequently asked questions

Why a bottle rather than a spray?

Control. A sponge puts colour on the millimetre you aim at, which is what you want on a shoe with a light sole, contrast stitching or a mesh panel.

Will it work on grey mesh trainers?

Yes, textile is one of the materials Collonil rate it for. Work lightly on mesh, because woven fabric takes up more liquid than a nap does.

Can I fix just one faded panel?

That is exactly what this bottle is for. Start in the centre of the panel and feather the colour outwards so the edge disappears into the surrounding suede. Let it dry fully before you decide whether it needs more, because suede always looks darker while it is wet. Brush the nap up at the end and the repair becomes invisible.

Where can I buy the Collonil Dark Grey Suede Colour Reviver 729 in the UK?

You can order the Collonil Dark Grey Suede Colour Reviver 729 directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy. Nubuk plus Textile is available in a range of shades.