Famaco Velly Daim Dark Brown Nubuck Dabber 337 – 75ml Suede and Nubuck Reviver

Description

Famaco Velly Daim Dark Brown Nubuck Dabber 337 – 75ml Suede and Nubuck Reviver – deep brown back in the nap, straight from the bottle

Dark brown suede and nubuck look wonderful for two winters and then the toes start to go pale. Nubuck fades from the outside in, so the vamp and the sides lift towards a dusty mid-brown while the tongue and the area under the laces stay exactly as dark as the day you bought them. Nothing looks more tired than a boot that is two shades lighter at the front than at the back.

This dark brown nubuck dabber is the neat way to put that right. No aerosol mist drifting round the hallway, no brush marks, just pigment exactly where you want it. Famaco have been making leather care in Paris since 1931, and Velly Daim is their long-running liquid reviver for napped leather, sold here as shade 337.

The clever part is the applicator. A foam pad sits in the neck of the 75ml bottle, so the liquid comes through at an even rate and does not run down the side of the shoe. Because the pigment settles into the fibres rather than sitting on top of them, the nap stays soft and brushes back up afterwards. It is equally at home on suede desert boots, nubuck Chelsea boots, brogues and handbags.

Why choose the Famaco Velly Daim dark brown nubuck dabber?

What a foam dabber does better than an aerosol or a cloth.

• Even coverage from the foam head. The pad releases a controlled amount of liquid, so you get a consistent film across the vamp instead of the drips and dark spots a cloth always leaves.
• Genuine colour restoration. The pigment sinks into the nap and rebuilds the dark brown on faded toes, scuffed heel counters and the creases across the flex point.
• The nap stays soft. This works into the fibres rather than gluing them flat, so once the leather is dry and brushed up it still feels like suede and nubuck should.
• A useful layer of protection. Treated napped leather holds off dust and light moisture rather better, which buys you a good few more wears between cleans.
• Neat enough for indoor work. With no aerosol there is no overspray and no lingering smell, so you can do a pair on newspaper at the kitchen table without opening every window.
• Dark brown is the workhorse shade. It is by far the most common colour in a British boot rack, and 337 is the deep, cool brown that suits nubuck rather than the reddish tan tones.

How to use the Famaco Velly Daim dark brown nubuck dabber

Two light passes always beat one heavy one, and the whole shoe always beats the faded patch.

1. Brush the shoes with a suede or crepe brush to lift the nap and take off surface dust. Colour will only sit evenly on clean, dry leather.
2. Shake the bottle well, then press the foam head against a hidden spot such as the inside of the heel to charge the pad and check the shade.
3. Work across the shoe in even, overlapping strokes, keeping the pad moving so no patch takes twice as much liquid as its neighbour.
4. Cover the whole upper rather than only the pale toe, including the sides and the heel counter.
5. Let the shoes dry naturally at room temperature, well away from radiators and direct sunlight.
6. Brush the nap back up with a crepe brush once dry, and add a second light pass if any area still looks thin.

My tip from behind the counter

Do the whole shoe, not just the faded bit. It is very tempting to dab only the pale toe and stop there, but napped leather takes colour according to how worn it already is, so you end up with a patch that reads darker than everything around it. One light pass over the entire upper, dried and brushed, looks far better than three heavy passes on the worst area. And start at the heel, where a mistake hides.

Specifications

• Volume: 75ml bottle with foam applicator head
• Shade: 337 Dark Brown
• Type: Liquid colour reviver for suede and nubuck
• Direction: Refreshes or darkens; it will not lighten napped leather
• Suitable for: Suede, nubuck and velour leather shoes, boots, bags and accessories
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and oiled leather
• Finish: Brush the nap up once dry; top up with a protector spray
• Brand: Famaco, Paris, since 1931
• Article code: Famaco-Velly-337
• Price: £8.99

Frequently asked questions

Will it make my nubuck stiff?

Not if you keep the coats thin. The liquid works into the fibres rather than coating them, and a brush with a crepe or rubber suede brush once the shoes are dry brings the velvety texture straight back. Heavy, repeated coats are what make napped leather feel boardy.

Can I use it to go lighter?

No. Like every colour product for napped leather it works from light to dark, so 337 will refresh a faded dark brown or deepen a mid tan, but it will not lift a black boot to brown. Match the shade to what you have, or go one step darker.

Is a dabber the same as a suede dye?

Not quite. A dabber is a reviver: it tops up colour that has faded while leaving the nap soft. A penetrating dye is far stronger, changes the colour outright and needs proper cleaning and masking first. For a tired but still brown pair, the dabber is the right tool and much the quicker job.

Where can I buy the Famaco Velly Daim dark brown nubuck dabber 337 in the UK?

You can order the Famaco Velly Daim dark brown nubuck dabber 337 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.