Ponyhair
Ponyhair - more precisely described as hair-on-hide - is a leather where the natural hair of the hide is retained and finished rather than removed. The hair is short, dense, and lies flat in one direction, giving the material an unmistakably tactile surface and a visual depth that shifts with the light and the angle you view it from. It is one of the most distinctive materials in our range - and one of the most particular to care for. Unlike smooth or suede leathers, ponyhair cannot be conditioned or polished in the traditional sense; the goal is simply to protect and preserve what is already there. It does not recover well from rough handling, prolonged moisture, or pressure - so how you store and wear it matters as much as how you clean it.
Do
- Brush lightly with a very soft brush in the direction of the hair
- Apply a specialist ponyhair or hair-on-hide protection spray
- Spot-clean with a barely damp cloth - pat, never rub
- Store in a cotton dust bag away from friction and pressure
- Handle the material gently - ponyhair does not recover from hard wear
Don't
- Brush against the grain - it permanently disrupts the lie of the hair
- Apply leather balm or conditioner directly - it mats the hair
- Wear in rain or wet conditions - water causes shedding and matting
- Stack or store under other shoes - pressure permanently flattens the hair
- Use heat to dry - air dry only, away from direct heat