Prodigal blog

SO... following a lengthy absence from the world of Blogging, Tinfish is back with avengence! new blogs will(we hope) be coming thick and fast to keep you in touch with whats going on on the Tinfish universe, lovely new things on the shelves, a few random thoughts from the cerebral realm of the Fishettes and a whole host of other lovely things.

This week sees the second in our BIG Wednesday promotions. Something of a bid to make mid-week just a touch more bearable, this week there's something for all sartorial gals and guys. £20 off Fly Yuna and Hudson Mesquite.

Since the Mesquite is probably best described as the beautifully crafted, naughty-nautical love-child of a boat shoe and an ankle boot, we've been rooting around in the life and times of the oh-so-now-darrrrling boat shoe look.

Originally designed by Paul Sperry in 1935 the deck shoe was originally launched in the US and was apparently inspired by the paws of Sperry's pooch. As an avid sailor Sperry grew tired of slipping on deck (quite embarassing me' hearties)- so he added the same pattern of grooves he'd seen on the paws of mans best friend as a way of preserving his dignity.

These days the deck shoe is more of a fashion over function idea, seen on celebs from Arnold Schwarzenegger to it-gal Alexa Chung. We've had a whole host hitting our shelves, from the Vagabond Marcella to the Nanny State Churchill. Whatever the reason for their new found popularity, its probably their high comfort level that makes them such a winner.

This week we Fishettes have been positively scandalized by the ban of Marmite in Denmark. Whose government aren't keen on the levels of Vitamin B fortification in this yeasty treat. As avid lovers of its salty taste (especially in in a cheese toastie), we can hardly believe it! On the 'love it or hate it' front, the 'flatform' has been a slight bone of contention. Similar to a platform, but with less of a heel and all of the height they're all over the place this summer. We love this touch of japanimania, perhaps best seen in the Irregular Choice Sling Bling.
Groovy Geisha, of farcical flatform? Discuss.

That's all for now folks.
Next time: Antoher Big Wednesday winner, a little more shoe geeking and anything else that catches our eye!

Tinfish x

How To Care For Nubuck Leather

Nubuck is leather that has been sanded or buffed to give a short nap, producing a velvet-like surface. It is resistant to wear, and can be dyed any color. 

Black Nubuck "Sabrina"

Nubuck is similar to suede, which is made from the inner side of a hide, whereas nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness along with a fine grain. It is usually more expensive than suede, and is dyed to cover up the sanding and stamping process.  While very soft and durable, it does scratch easily.

Follow these steps to insure your nubuck shoes stay beautiful:

1)    A bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way.  Spray your shoes with a protective spray made especially for nubuck and suede.  This process should be repeated regularly.

2)    If your shoes get wet, let them sit and dry thoroughly.  The nubuck might seem a bit hard, but the nap can be brushed with a special nubuck brush to soften the leather and remove any surface dirt.

3)    If you get marks on lighter colors, a nubuck “stone” or “eraser can be used to gently rub the marks.  This is a great product and can be purchased at most shoe repair shops.

4)    Nubuck can be cleaned. Special cleaners are available, but if you don’t feel comfortable cleaning them yourself; a good sho repair shop can make your shoes look like new.

Nubuck is a beautiful, soft but strong leather…...a bit of care will ensure

years of wear!

Do you care?

Do you care about being sustainable? What does sustainable even mean to you? I try to be sustainable, but it's a little subjective. For example, a friend of mine doesn't eat meat because it's not sustainable. She's uber substainable I guess. I eat meat but I try not to buy new clothes; only from op-shops/vintage stores or on eBay. But I don't buy old shoes generally because they are not worn into my feet and hence are uncomfortable.

I found this diagram, it shows how Sustainability can be measured or explained. But in terms of footwear, how can you buy sustainably?

Buy fashion made from sustainable materials: cork, latex and jute... Jute is hessian. This is quite difficult but a simple Google search will yield ethical and sustainable brands like El Naturalista who believe that

"Naturalistas" start their journey observing everything that surrounds them. They travel through the world and observe it, becoming impregnated by its textures, its colors, its lines... and after a thousand journeys, real and imaginary, they discover that a single idea brings us together. Whatever our race or culture... we all walk in search of happiness.

Another brand to consider is The Simple Shoes who use recycled materials in addition to sustainable ones. They use recycled rubber from inner tubes in big tyres, like on a tractor I suppose, to make your shoes.

Another way to buy sustainably is through second hand clothing either via opshops, on ebay, in vintage clothing stores or via clothes swaps. There are a lot of options for second hand clothes and these days the clothes you buy are generally freshly washed and in perfect condition.

What else can you do? Make like it's wartime and mend things that no longer fit.