Slitesterk Dark Green Suede Penetrating Dye 133 – 100ml with Ball Brush

Description

Slitesterk Dark Green Suede Penetrating Dye 133 – 100ml with Ball Brush – the shade nobody else makes, in twice the bottle

Green suede is wonderful and green suede care is almost impossible to find. Bottle green loafers, forest green chukkas, a pair of olive suede trainers: the moment the nap goes grey at the toe you discover that every brand on the shelf makes brown, black and navy and stops there. This dark green suede penetrating dye is the honest fix, and it is one of the reasons we had this line made for us in the first place.

It is a dye, not a surface paint. The pigment travels into the suede fibres and colours them from within, so the nap keeps its texture and brushes up soft afterwards. Nothing sits on top to go shiny, stiff or crack across the flex line. That distinction matters enormously on napped leather, and it is why a dye will always look more natural than a paint on a suede upper.

The other reason to choose this one is simple arithmetic. The standard alternatives come in fiddly 50ml bottles with a handful of shades. Ours is a full 100ml bottle, roughly double the usual amount, with a round ball brush applicator in the box. You can finish a pair of boots, put a second coat on the worn toes, and still have dye left rather than rationing the last few drops.

One thing to be clear about, because it saves disappointment: penetrating dye works dark over light. Dark green will refresh and deepen an existing green or olive suede beautifully, and it will take a pale sage or a light khaki down to a deep forest tone. It will not lift a black or a dark brown shoe to green. If in doubt, test on the inside of the tongue.

Why choose the Slitesterk suede dye?

Why this bottle rather than the usual 50ml alternative:

• A green that actually exists. Shade 133 is a deep, wearable forest green. Finding suede care in green at all is difficult, and finding a proper penetrating dye rather than a spray is harder still.
• A full 100ml bottle. Around double the volume of the standard suede dyes, so a pair of boots including a second coat on the worst wear comes comfortably out of one bottle.
• Ball brush included. The applicator is in the box, so you are not improvising with a sponge. It spreads the dye evenly and reaches into the seam line without flooding it.
• Penetrating, not coating. The pigment is absorbed by the suede fibres, so the nap keeps its movement and texture. No plastic sheen, no stiff patches, no cracking.
• Works on far more than shoes. Suede and nubuck bags, jackets, gloves and belts all take the same treatment. If it is napped leather and it has gone tired, this will help.

How to use the Slitesterk suede dye

Suede rewards patience more than any other material. Thin and even beats thick and hopeful every single time.

1. Brush the shoes thoroughly with a suede or crepe brush to lift dust and raise the nap. A stiffer dirt brush will clean the soles.
2. If the suede has been treated with a protector spray, clean it first with a suede cleaner. Dye cannot travel through a waterproofing layer.
3. Mask the sole edge and any smooth-leather trim with low-tack tape, and stuff the shoes with paper so they hold their shape while you work.
4. Shake the bottle firmly for about twenty seconds so the pigment is fully mixed, then load the ball brush.
5. Apply the dye in thin, even passes following the nap. Start at the seams and the sole edge, then sweep across the open panels.
6. Let each coat dry completely and judge the depth in daylight. Build a second or third coat if you want it deeper, then brush the nap up and finish with a suede protector spray.

My tip from behind the counter

Always check colourfastness on a hidden area before you commit, and remember that suede looks alarmingly dark while it is wet. Wait until it is bone dry and brushed out before you judge the shade, because it lightens noticeably as it dries. Half the people who think they have gone too dark have simply looked too early.

Specifications

• Volume: 100ml bottle, roughly double the standard 50ml size
• Shade: 133 Dark Green
• Type: Penetrating dye for suede and nubuck
• Applicator: Round ball brush included
• Suitable for: Suede and nubuck shoes, boots, trainers, bags, jackets, gloves and belts
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and coated finishes
• Direction of change: Dark over light only
• Brand: Slitesterk
• Price: £12.99

Frequently asked questions

How many coats will I need?

Most pairs look right after two thin coats. Badly faded toes and heel counters sometimes want a third. With 100ml in the bottle you can afford to build the depth slowly rather than flooding it in one go.

Will the dye rub off onto my socks or trousers?

Not once it is fully dry and brushed out. The pigment is absorbed into the fibres rather than left on the surface, so give it proper drying time and finish with a protector spray.

Can I turn light beige suede into dark green?

Yes. That is precisely the direction a penetrating dye works in. Expect to need two or three coats to get an even, deep tone, and test first so you know what the finished shade will look like.

Where can I buy Slitesterk Dark Green Suede Penetrating Dye 133 in the UK?

You can order Slitesterk Dark Green Suede Penetrating Dye 133 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.