Our shoes are designed in France and manufactured in Portugal in small workshop in the Aveiro region. To make a pair of Anne Thomas shoes, 80 to 120 operations, most of them manual, may be necessary.



General rules

In order for your shoes to keep their initial shape, do not hesitate to use shoe trees or the tissue paper available in the Anne Thomas box. Also, we advise you to store them in a bag or in their box, away from the sun or humidity, to avoid shocks with your other shoes :-).

We offer very high quality shoes for an affordable price, however we are aware that they are not cheap, it would be a shame not to enjoy them as long as possible! As with everything precious, it is important to take care of them. It is also advisable not to wear your shoes every day, even if it is difficult with our comfort :-), but it is necessary to let them breathe, dry and also for a better hygiene. The ideal is to alternate day after day with two or three pairs of shoes.



Materials used on our shoes

Our creations are made from leather from Italian and French tanneries supplying mainly high-end and luxury houses. We are uncompromising about their quality and suppleness, it is very important to us that your shoes accompany you on a daily basis and that in comfort.

Here is the list of leathers we use in the making of our shoes:


Suede leather or suede maintenance

The suede leather we use comes from a small family tannery in the Piedmont region north of Turin, where a number of tanneries supplying luxury houses are located. Our velvet is made from lambskin, which is incomparable in its suppleness and comfort. The tannery uses very few chemical elements, which gives the leather a depth of colour that could not be obtained with vegetable tanned leathers.
Suede leathers need to be protected and waterproofed to reduce the possibility of stains and contact with rain, so we recommend that you use them regularly, depending on how often you wear your shoes. However, if the shoe should become stained, use a brush suitable for suede leather. Use this brush by brushing very gently without pressure, in order to lift the hair and remove the encrusted impurities. You can also use erasers or wipes adapted to suede leather, the century-old French shoe care brand Saphir, for example, is a reference in this area.


Maintenance lambskin

The lambskin nappa leather we use comes from a small family tannery in the Piedmont region north of Turin, where a number of tanneries supplying the luxury houses are located.
Nappa leather is a full grain leather, smooth, fine, sun and weather resistant. When it is lambskin, nappa leather is of the highest quality, your feet will say thank you :-), the unequalled suppleness making its effect, this leather will "glove" your foot.
To maintain nappa leather, it is not recommended to use coloured or cream polishes as the leather is very porous and marks could appear. Use a soft dry or slightly damp cloth to clean your shoes.

 
Maintenance of full grain calf leather

Calf leather is a resistant leather, thicker than nappa leather and is generally used for the manufacture of boots or men's shoes to give a more "chunky" appearance.
For its maintenance it is advised to use a wet cloth, you can also use creams but avoid products containing solvents, these can damage the finish of the leather. Coloured polishes should also be avoided.  


Maintenance of calf suede leather

Suede calf leather is a turned over calf skin that has been gently sanded to obtain a subtle yet supple and very comfortable feel.

For maintenance, we advise you to use a waterproofing spray against rain and snow, depending on how often you wear your shoes or boots.
However, if the shoe should become stained, use a brush suitable for suede leather. Use it by brushing delicately, in order to lift the hair and remove the encrusted impurities. You can also use erasers or wipes adapted to suede leather, the century-old French shoe care brand Saphir, for example, is a reference in this area.

Maintenance of glazed calf leather  

This historically Italian leather is also known as polido leather. This leather is waterproof and requires little maintenance. A soft damp cloth wiped over the leather will be enough to restore your shoes to their original shine. It is not advisable to apply shoe polish or cream to this type of leather. The leather we use is to our knowledge the highest quality polido leather on the market, and even this cannot prevent this phenomenon intrinsic to this category of leather.

 
Vegetable-tanned leather or not?

In women's shoe manufacturing, the use of vegetable tanned leather is only rarely used. In the current state of scientific knowledge on the subject, the use of chemical ingredients such as chromium is necessary for the production of shoe leather and moreover for women if we wish to obtain an optimal result adapted to the manufacture of shoes, in particular for the flexibility of the leather and the comfort of the foot. European tanneries have the strictest environmental standards in the world on the use and types of chromium used, which are used as a colour fixative and have other benefits but are not environmentally friendly. Concerning vegetable tanning, despite what one might think, it also requires chemical elements, especially for the elaboration of the tannins used for tanning the hides. Also, to obtain these tannins, it is necessary to cut down trees...and to transport them to the European tanneries (some tannins come from South America) each solution is not ideal and virtuous...As for aesthetics, vegetable tanning will only be limited to primary colours, either very natural light, or dark variations between brown and black. If you like subtle colours like we do, this option is not ideal. Also, here is a little tip to determine the quality of a classic tanning leather and the know-how of the tannery: look closely at the colours of the leather, the less deep it is and the more chrome (see also some "unsavoury" types of chrome) is used during the tanning process..., and this is for cost reasons, as the more chrome you use, the higher the productivity of the tannery. These leathers are used for the manufacture of entry-level shoes, but also medium and even (allegedly) high-end shoes... Be careful!

 

Water damage?

Leather-soled shoes are sensitive and must be protected, small rains will not have any impact on your shoes, however it is necessary to avoid repeated exposure to water, snow and showers. If one day your shoes should get wet, do not put them next to a source of heat as this can permanently damage your shoes. Let them dry in the open air and make sure they are completely dry before wearing them again.

 
Leather soles

Most Anne Thomas shoes are made with leather soles. If you wish to wear your shoes in wet weather, you can apply a pad to protect them from the elements and to extend the life of your sole. Before applying a pad, we advise you to walk for 2 to 3 days in dry weather to "make" your sole. The operation costs between 15 and 25 euros and we suggest that you carry out the fitting at your local cobbler's in order to keep the small business alive.

Also, finding a good cobbler is not easy, we have established a list of the best cobblers in Paris and the main French cities, hoping that this will help you in your search,