In order to determine the best way to care for your accessories, the first step is to know their composition: is your piece made of grained leather like our iconic Sofia bag , or vegan material like the emblematic César bag , raffia like our two-material Rodin bag or palm leaf like our Sac Paul and Paulina bags.

Each material has different characteristics that require special care to reduce the signs of wear and tear. Discover the different types of materials we use at Balzac Paris and our tips for maintaining them, ensuring they last over time and are passed down from generation to generation.

Smooth leather is a leather in which the grain (pattern) is found on the upper surface. It can therefore have a grained or smooth appearance depending on the fineness of the grain, which gives it a very pleasant feel. It does not have a protective top layer, so it is more likely to be marked over time and wear. With regular care, it will develop a patina and become more beautiful over time. To care for it, you must first brush it to remove dust. Then you must use a cleansing milk and then apply a cream to nourish it. Finally, it is essential to use a waterproofing product to protect it from moisture or stains. The same care routine should be applied to metallic leather accessories such as our Albane sandals.

Smooth leather can also be coated with a varnished or wrinkled varnish finish, which, in addition to its aesthetic appeal, protects it from external aggressions. This is the case for our yellow wrinkled Poesie bag or our black Romy baby shoes. These pieces require less maintenance, and our lotion is enough to clean them if necessary.

This is a leather particularly used for leather goods. It is recognizable by its embossed patterns, which are created on the surface using a hot pressing technique. This leather has the same properties as smooth leather and can also be covered with a varnish finish. To maintain its quality, it is recommended to apply a care routine (brush, cleansing milk, nourishing shoe polish, waterproofing) approximately every 4 weeks if worn regularly. On our embossed pieces such as the César cognac or the Noah, we recommend using colorless wax to avoid damaging the color of your bag.

Suede leather is a generic term for nubuck and suede leather. (Nubuck is leather whose grain side (outer surface of the hide) has been finely sanded, while suede is leather whose flesh side (inner surface of the hide) has been used as is, sanded or even scraped.)

Commonly used for shoes and leather goods, suede leather is prized for its unique appearance and its so-called “peach skin” feel. This delicate leather can show discoloration or marks when repeatedly rubbed against lighter-colored pieces.

It is necessary to give it special care so that your favorite pieces accompany you as long as possible and that they are still in perfect condition if you wish to give them a second life . The routine to adopt is a little different than previously; first of all, dusting should be carried out with a crepe brush, then a special suede leather shampoo is essential to remove stains (Balzac Paris cleaning milk cannot be used). The waterproofing step should be repeated more frequently than for other leathers. Finally, you can use a soft brush to give it a nice velvety finish.

One of our favorite leathers at Balzac Paris, as it is notably used to print animal motifs. It is a leather with a rather unique feel and appearance because it is “unhaired.” It is naturally waterproof because it is very close to the animal's skin in its raw state. Whether you are looking after your bag handle or your leopard Maximilien sneaker , simply brush your piece gently in the direction of the hair. You can also use a waterproofer if you wish, applying a small amount of product. It is best not to try to remove a stain on pony leather yourself, but rather to entrust it to a professional or to our Kiosk, who will know how to pamper your bag as it should be.

The sustainability of our products is at the heart of our thinking at Balzac Paris. We were therefore keen to design a tailor-made skincare routine to best protect your new pair of Balzac Paris sneakers or your favorite César bag .

All our care products are made in France and available online and at l'Adresse. The wooden and horsehair brush is used to dust leather. The 100% cotton chamois cloth, made in France, is used to apply the milk and shoe polish. The milk can be used to clean various types of stains and make the material shine. We offer two types of shoe polish: a colorless one that revives the color of leather and a black shoe polish suitable for black leather only. Finally, the waterproofing agent protects against dirt, water stains, and grease. This routine should be repeated several times a year, and the waterproofing agent can be used on its own more regularly.