TRG Navy Blue Nubuck Colour Reviver 117 – Suede Dabber 75ml

Description

TRG Navy Blue Nubuck Colour Reviver 117 – Suede Dabber 75ml – precise colour back into tired navy suede, without a cloud of spray

Navy suede and navy nubuck are lovely materials that age in a very particular way: the flat panels stay dark and the working areas do not. The toe cap, the outside quarter where your foot brushes the door frame, the heel counter where the shoe rubs against its partner in the wardrobe. Those spots go grey and chalky first, and the rest of the shoe looks fine, which makes the contrast worse.

That is precisely the job this bottle was built for. The navy blue nubuck colour reviver from TRG uses a foam dabber built into the cap rather than an aerosol, so you put the pigment exactly where the colour has gone and nowhere else. No overspray, no masking, no fogging the sole with a mist of navy.

It is a reviver rather than a dye, which is an important distinction. It tops up the colour that is already there and revitalises the nap at the same time, so the shoe reads as evenly navy again while still looking and feeling like suede.

Why choose the TRG navy blue nubuck colour reviver?

• Precise, controlled application. The foam dabber lets you treat a scuffed toe or a worn heel counter on its own, which is impossible with an aerosol. Nothing lands on the sole, the lining or the laces.
• Revives the nap as it colours. The formula conditions the brushed fibres as well as tinting them, so a flattened, tired area comes back with some texture instead of looking wet and matted.
• Ideal for small areas and bags. A 75ml bottle with a dabber is the right tool for handbags, wallets, watch straps and the odd patch on a boot, where a 200ml aerosol would be complete overkill.
• Even, believable navy. Shade 117 is a proper mid-to-deep navy rather than a bright cobalt, so it blends into most factory navy suedes without leaving a visible repaired patch.
• No masking or ventilation faff. Because there is no propellant you can do this at the kitchen table on a wet Sunday, which is when most people actually get round to looking after their shoes.
• Made by a specialist since 1940. TRG the One is a Spanish family firm that has been making leather care for over eighty years, and their shade numbering is consistent across the range.

How to use the TRG navy blue nubuck colour reviver

The whole trick with a dabber is to prime it on a piece of kitchen roll first, then build the colour in light passes. A dry dabber lays down too little and a flooded one leaves a dark ring, so give it a moment to find its rhythm.

1. Brush the suede or nubuck clean with a suede brush, working the nap in one direction to lift out dust and grit.
2. If the shoes are genuinely dirty, wash them with a suede cleaner and let them dry fully indoors before you start.
3. Shake the bottle, then press the dabber onto a piece of kitchen roll two or three times to prime the foam evenly.
4. Dab the colour onto the faded areas in light, overlapping touches, keeping the dabber moving rather than pressing hard.
5. Feather the edges out into the surrounding suede so there is no hard line between the treated and untreated areas.
6. Let the shoes dry for around half an hour, brush the nap up again and finish with a suede protector spray.

My tip from behind the counter

Do the small hidden bits first. Start with the inside of the heel or the tongue, not the toe cap, because that tells you how strongly this bottle reads on your particular suede before you commit to the part everyone looks at. And treat both shoes of a pair in one sitting, even if only one looks worn. A freshly revived left shoe next to an untouched right one is far more noticeable than two evenly faded ones ever were.

Specifications

• Volume: 75ml bottle with foam dabber cap
• Shade: 117 Navy Blue
• Type: Pigmented colour reviver and conditioner for napped leather
• Suitable for: Suede and nubuck shoes, boots, bags and small leather goods
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and oiled pull-up leathers
• Drying time: Around 30 minutes before brushing
• Article code: Trg-Reviver-117
• Brand: TRG the One, Spain, since 1940
• Price: £6.99

Frequently asked questions

Is this a dye or a colour refresher?

It is a refresher. A dye penetrates the fibre and changes the colour permanently, including from light to dark. This tops up the navy that is already there and conditions the nap, which is what you want for a shoe that has simply faded rather than one you want in a different colour altogether.

Will it leave a dark ring around the treated patch?

Not if you feather the edges. Work outwards from the faded area with progressively lighter touches so the new colour fades into the old, and brush the nap through once it is dry. It is the same principle as blending paint on a car panel, just far more forgiving.

Do I need to reproof the shoes afterwards?

Yes, I would always finish with a suede protector spray. The reviver puts colour and condition back but it is not a waterproofer, and freshly brushed nap is more absorbent than you might think. A quick coat of protector locks the work in and keeps the next rain shower off.

Where can I buy the TRG Navy Blue Nubuck Colour Reviver 117 in the UK?

You can order the TRG Navy Blue Nubuck Colour Reviver 117 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.