Tarrago Willow Green Leather Paint 048 – 25ml Water-Based Dye with Preparer

Description

Tarrago Leather Paint 048 Willow – a soft sage green, and it covers anything

Most leather paints can only take a shoe darker. That is the compromise you normally accept: black over brown, never brown over black. Tarrago’s Leather Paint does not work that way. Its covering power is high enough to go from a dark shade to a light one, which is precisely why a soft willow green is even an option here.

Shade 048 is a gentle, greyed sage green – the green of willow leaves rather than grass or bottle glass. It is a shade that looks quietly expensive on a court shoe or a pair of loafers, and it is very forgiving next to tan, cream and navy in a wardrobe.

This willow leather paint arrives as a small kit rather than a lone bottle: 25ml of water-based paint plus a 25ml bottle of preparer and deglazer, an applicator sponge, a brush and instructions. The preparer is the part people skip and then regret – it strips the finish and old polish so the paint grips instead of peeling.

It is water-based, dries fast to a self-shine finish, and it is happy on smooth leather, synthetic leather and canvas. So this is as much a shoe-customising kit as a repair product. I have seen it used to rescue scuffed white trainers, to change a pair of dated shoes completely, and to touch in heel scrapes on bags.

Why choose this willow leather paint?

• It covers light over dark. The pigment load is high enough to take a dark shoe to a pale green, which almost no other leather paint will do. That opens up the whole range instead of limiting you to darker shades than you started with.
• Preparer included, not sold separately. The kit contains a 25ml bottle of preparer and deglazer. Skipping this step is the single most common reason leather paint flakes off later, so having it in the box matters.
• Brush and sponge in the box. A sponge for the broad panels and a brush for the seams, welt and the awkward join between sole and upper. No decanting and no hunting for tools.
• Water-based and fast drying. It is a water-based formula, so it dries quickly between coats and the brush and sponge rinse out under the tap rather than needing solvent.
• Smooth leather, synthetics and canvas. The same 25ml bottle works across genuine leather, coated and synthetic leather and canvas, which is why it suits trainers as well as smart shoes.
• A self-shine finish. It dries to its own soft sheen, so there is no separate lacquer step required before the shoes are wearable again.

How to use Tarrago Leather Paint

1. Clean the shoes thoroughly, remove the laces and mask off the soles, welts and any part you do not want to paint with low-tack tape.
2. Wipe the whole surface with the included preparer on a cloth to strip the old finish, polish and grease. Let it dry fully.
3. Shake the paint well and decant a little, or work straight from the bottle using the dosing cap.
4. Apply the first coat thinly with the sponge on flat panels and the brush for seams and edges. Resist the urge to load it on.
5. Let each coat dry, then build two or three thin coats until the willow green is even. Thin layers stay flexible; thick ones crack.
6. Leave the finished shoes to cure fully before wearing, and wash the brush and sponge out with water straight away.

Specifications

• Contents: 25ml leather paint plus 25ml preparer, sponge, brush and instructions
• Shade: 048 Willow – soft sage green
• Type: Water-based pigmented leather paint
• Suitable for: Smooth leather, synthetic leather and canvas
• Finish: Self-shine, flexible
• Brand: Tarrago
• Price: £11.99

Frequently asked questions

Can I paint dark shoes a light willow green?

Yes, and that is the point of this range. Tarrago’s covering power is high enough to work from dark to light, which most leather paints cannot manage. Use the preparer first, then build three thin coats rather than two heavy ones. Patience at this stage is what separates a professional-looking result from a blotchy one.

Will the paint crack when the shoe flexes?

Not if it is applied properly. The formula stays flexible once cured, but flexibility depends on thin coats. Two or three thin layers move with the leather; one thick layer sits on top like a shell and will crack across the vamp. Always use the preparer too – paint applied over old polish has nothing to grip.

Where can I buy Tarrago willow leather paint in the UK?

You can order Tarrago Leather Paint 048 Willow 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, so you can buy with complete confidence.