What is Burnishing on a pair of handcrafted shoes?

In shoemaking terminology, burnish is the term for adding an antiqued effect on leather shoes to create a variation in shades. The process of burnishing is meant to bring out the highs and the lows of the shoe, strongly focusing on drawing out the depth of the leather. Burnishing helps in giving the shoe a
look of superior quality and exclusiveness.

The process requires simple but precise equipment, a set of burnishing mops, and a bar of specific burnishing wax. The rest is all down to the skill and expertise of the burnishing artisan to achieve the best possible finish.

It takes up to one hour to perfect each individual shoe, having to burnish the entire shoe with particular care, paying special attention to the cap and counter. This is by no means a simple task for the burnishing artisan. If a shoe is mopped too much, it will begin to burn and leave large dark patches over the shoe. Alternatively, if burnished too little you will be left with a mediocre finish.

Two burnishing intensities are available: light for a standard burnishing effect on toe and heel, and heavy, with the same effect, but covering even more surface of the toe/heel using slightly darker tones.

How to request burnishing on Custom Design orders

While creating your style on the 3D Designing Tool, the burnishing widget will appear on the left side of your screen.
Bear in mind that the 3D visualization is just an approximate representation of the finishing effect. Burnishing is an artisan hand-made technique, which ensures that each pair will be totally unique.

Try it now in our Design Your Own Section!