Slitesterk Bordeaux Suede Dye 100ml – Penetrating Dye for Suede and Nubuck

Description

Slitesterk Bordeaux Suede Dye 100ml – Penetrating Dye for Suede and Nubuck – a deep wine red that soaks right into the nap

Suede has one weakness: it fades. A few wet school runs, a summer of sunshine and a favourite pair of bordeaux boots slowly turns a tired, patchy brown. This bordeaux suede dye is what I reach for when a brush and a colour spray simply cannot bring the shade back any more.

This is a penetrating dye, not a surface paint. It travels into the suede fibres and colours them from within, so the nap stays soft and open instead of ending up stiff, shiny or plasticky. Once it is dry you can still brush the pile up and the leather still breathes.

We had this range put together for our own customers because the standard alternatives are usually 50ml bottles in a handful of shades. Every bottle here holds 100ml, which is roughly double, and it comes with a ball brush in the box so you have everything you need to get started.

One bottle is comfortably enough for a pair of ankle boots, and often for a second lighter pair too. Bordeaux is a deep wine red with a hint of brown, so it works beautifully over faded burgundy, oxblood, brick and mid-brown suede. Remember that a penetrating dye always works dark over light, never the other way around.

Why choose this bordeaux suede dye?

• 100ml, not 50ml – you get roughly twice the usual amount for a similar price, which means enough dye for a full pair and touch-ups later on.
• Ball brush included – the applicator brush in the box holds a small amount of dye at a time, so you can work in thin, even passes rather than flooding the suede.
• Colours the fibres, not the surface – because the dye penetrates, the nap keeps its velvety feel and the suede stays breathable instead of sealed under a film.
• Rub-resistant when dry – once fully cured the colour will not bleed onto socks, trouser hems or your fingers the way cheap dyes sometimes do.
• Build the depth you want – one pass gives a gentle refresh, two or three give a rich, saturated bordeaux. You decide where to stop.
• Also for bags and jackets – the same bottle happily takes on suede bags, belts, gloves and jackets, so nothing sits in a cupboard looking tired.

How to use bordeaux suede dye on shoes and boots

1. Brush the whole shoe with a suede or crepe brush to lift out dust and dirt, and give the soles a going-over with a stiff dirt brush. The dye needs a clean, open nap to bite into.
2. If the shoes are new or have been treated with a waterproofing spray, wash them down with a suede cleaner first, then let them dry completely. Old impregnation stops dye in its tracks.
3. Mask off the soles, heels and any smooth leather trim with masking tape or foil. It takes two minutes and saves you a fiddly clean-up later.
4. Test on a hidden spot — the inside of the heel is ideal — to check the shade and the colourfastness of the leather before you commit to the whole shoe.
5. Load the ball brush with a little dye and work it into the suede in small, overlapping circles. Little and often beats one heavy coat; keep going until the whole panel is evenly covered.
6. Let the shoes dry at room temperature, well away from a radiator, then judge the depth. Happy? Leave them a good while longer to cure, brush the nap up and finish with a protector spray.

Specifications

• Volume: 100ml bottle, roughly double the usual 50ml
• Colour: Bordeaux (105) — deep wine red
• Type: Penetrating suede dye, water-thin, applied with a brush
• Suitable for: Suede, nubuck and velour leather shoes, boots, bags, belts and jackets
• Included: Ball brush applicator
• Brand: Slitesterk
• Good to know: Works dark over light only; finish with a protector spray

Frequently asked questions

How much dye do I need for a pair of suede boots?

That depends on the thickness of the suede, how thirsty it is and how deep you want the shade. As a rule of thumb, a pair of trainers or shoes takes a fraction of the bottle, a pair of ankle boots rather more, and tall boots most of all. With 100ml in the bottle you have plenty of room to build up two or three passes and keep some back for touch-ups.

Can I dye light suede a darker shade with this?

Yes — that is exactly what a penetrating dye is for. It goes dark over light, so beige, tan or faded burgundy suede will happily take bordeaux. What it cannot do is turn a dark shoe lighter. If your shoes are already black or dark brown, bordeaux will barely show.

Where can I buy this bordeaux suede dye in the UK?

You can order this bordeaux suede dye 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.