TRG Daphne Suede Dye 122 – 50ml Penetrating Dye for Suede and Nubuck

Description

TRG Daphne Suede Dye 122 – 50ml Penetrating Dye for Suede and Nubuck – a proper recolour for suede, not a refresh

There comes a point where brushing and spraying will not save a pair of suede boots. The nap has gone shiny, the shade has washed out unevenly, and what they need is not a refresh but a proper recolour. That is exactly the job this bottle does.

TRG the One have been making leather chemistry in Spain since 1940, and their Suede Dye is a penetrating dye rather than a surface coating. It soaks into the fibres so the new shade looks like the suede’s own rather than a film sitting on top, and it stays put through brushing and wear. Each 50ml bottle comes with an applicator brush in the box.

Shade 122 is Daphne, a soft periwinkle blue that sits between sky blue and purple on the TRG chart. A daphne suede dye is the natural choice when pale blue suede has faded towards grey, and it is equally good for taking stone, sand or light grey suede somewhere altogether more interesting.

One rule matters above all others: a dye only ever works light to dark. You can deepen a pale suede, but nothing takes a dark one back the other way.

Why choose the TRG Daphne Suede Dye?

What a penetrating dye gives you that a spray cannot.

• It soaks in rather than sitting on top. The dye works into the fibres themselves, so the shade survives brushing and will not rub off onto your hands or your trouser hems.
• Even, deep coverage. Two or three thin coats give a uniform blue across the whole shoe, including the scuffed toe that a spray would always leave patchy.
• Applicator brush included. The brush in the box handles seams and welt edges neatly. For large flat panels a sponge or a wool dauber is faster and easier.
• Works on suede and nubuck alike. Boots, shoes, bags and jackets all take it, as long as the material is a genuinely napped leather rather than a smooth or coated one.
• Made by a specialist house since 1940. TRG dyes are used in repair shops right across Europe, and the pigment strength is exactly why. A 50ml bottle goes a long way.

How to use the TRG Daphne Suede Dye

Do the whole shoe rather than spot-treating. Suede shows every edge where a coat stops.

1. Brush the suede all over with a suede brush to lift the nap and remove every last trace of dust and dried dirt.
2. Mask the sole edge and any smooth-leather trim, and stuff the shoes with paper so they hold their shape.
3. Start at the seams and around the sole, where dye tends to pool, then work outwards across each panel.
4. Apply the dye in a thin, even coat over the whole shoe. Suede almost always needs two coats for an even tone and three for a real shade change.
5. Let each coat dry thoroughly before the next, and allow around twelve hours for the final coat to dry completely.
6. Brush the nap up with a suede brush, then finish with a waterproofing spray so the recoloured leather resists dirt and moisture.

My tip from behind the counter

Test on the inside of the heel and judge it once dry, because wet dye always looks two shades darker than the finished result. And be realistic about the starting point: this blue will transform a pale grey or stone suede, but it will barely register on anything already darker than itself.

Specifications

• Volume: 50ml bottle
• Shade: 122 Daphne, a soft periwinkle blue
• Type: Penetrating dye for napped leather, not a surface coating
• Included: Applicator brush in the box
• Suitable for: Suede and nubuck shoes, boots, bags and jackets
• Direction: Light to dark only; a dye cannot lighten leather
• Drying time: Around twelve hours for the final coat
• Brand: TRG the One, made in Spain since 1940
• Price: £7.99

Frequently asked questions

Will it rub off on my clothes?

Not once it has dried properly and been brushed out. Because the dye penetrates the fibres rather than coating them, the shade stays in the leather. Rubbing off is almost always a sign of an unbrushed final coat or too little drying time.

Can I dye grey suede this blue?

Yes, and pale grey or stone suede is the ideal starting point. Expect the finished shade to read slightly cooler and deeper than the bottle looks. Two coats is usually enough on a light base, three if you want the blue to be unmistakable.

How many pairs will one bottle do?

A 50ml bottle comfortably covers one pair of boots with two coats, or two pairs of low shoes. Buy two bottles if you are dyeing something large, such as a jacket, so that you never have to stop mid-panel.

Where can I buy the TRG Daphne Suede Dye in the UK?

You can order the TRG Daphne 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.