One can wear a pair of shoes to death without any rigour or concern for its ultimate appearance, pulling them on each morning and kicking them off each night, indifferent to what they endure. The shoes will still serve for a time. But there’s less satisfaction in that kind of neglect. True value manifests only through attention. The life of a garment or shoe does not end when you buy it; it begins under your jurisdiction. From that moment, its future is dependent on your conduct and willingness to understand ownership as not merely a consumptive practice, but a productive process requiring equal participation from you the consumer.
Care is a labour. To truly appreciate something built with skill, one must share in the discipline that created it. In this sense, ownership transforms into a form of collaborative dialogue between craftsman and custodian. A brush taken to a pair of shoes before bed. A coat hung properly after the rain. These signals of respect go beyond the tool, speaking to a fundamental integrity in honouring one's possessions.
Arterton exists to support this practice; extending the philosophy of craftsmanship beyond our atelier, offering tools that allow care itself to couple as an art form. Each product is conceived with the same regard for material, design, and longevity as the garments they are made to preserve.
1. Adopting a Shoe Care Routine
Few things speak to personal discipline more than the condition of one’s shoes, and maintenance of your shoes’ leather and shape can be easier than you may think. A shoe-care routine need not be elaborate: brushing away the day’s dust with durable bristles of a horsehair brush, inserting wooden shoe trees to preserve shoe structure, reduce creasing and absorb moisture and draw out moisture, and allowing leather to rest between wears are easy steps to implement that help signal intentional dressing.
2. The Importance of Quality Hanging
A well-cut jacket owes its life to the shoulder as the foundation of its silhouette. When one goes to hang their garment onto a flimsy frame, this undermines the very craftsmanship they have paid for. To ensure your clothes drape cleanly and retain its intended form, invest in contoured wooden hangers that mirror the natural slope of your shoulders and distribute weight evenly across the garment.
3. Storing Garments Mindfully
Your storage set up is as much a part of dressing well as wearing. Investment in a good garment bag will protect your clothes not only from dust and light but also from the complacency of neglect. The best examples are made from breathable cotton or waxed canvas – materials that allow air to circulate whilst simultaneously offering resistance to wetness.
4. Regular Brushing
Brushing may seem a modest act, but it remains one of the most effective habits in preserving a garment’s integrity. A few quick brush strokes after each wear will clear away dust and revive the clothing texture, as well as preventing fabric fibres from matting – especially with wool and cashmere. A few light brush strokes after each wear are often all that’s required to maintain a garment’s freshness and prolong its life.
