Before wearing your boots for the first time, we recommend applying a suitable leather protector designed for the specific material of your boots.
A leather protector may help guard against light moisture, dirt and marks, but it does not make your boots waterproof. Avoid wearing your boots in heavy rain, wet grass, mud, puddles or soaked conditions.
Always test any protector on a small hidden area first before applying it to the full boot.
Cleaning Your Boots After Wear
After each wear, gently remove dust and dirt with a soft dry cloth.
For light marks, use a slightly damp cloth or a suitable leather wipe and allow the boots to air dry naturally.
Do not scrub, soak or heavily rub the leather, as this can damage the finish, remove colour, affect painted details or mark delicate materials.
Do not use household cleaners, alcohol wipes, bleach, detergent, harsh chemicals or general cleaning sprays on your boots.
If your boots become wet, gently pat them dry with a clean towel and allow them to air dry naturally at room temperature.
Never place your boots near heaters, fireplaces, hairdryers, direct sunlight or any other heat source. Direct heat can dry out the leather, cause cracking, affect adhesives, change colour and damage specialty finishes.
Do not wear the boots again until they are fully dry.
Conditioning Leather Boots
Smooth leather can benefit from conditioning when needed. A high-quality leather conditioner helps keep leather soft, nourished and refreshed.
We recommend conditioning smooth leather boots every 3–6 months, depending on how often they are worn and the conditions they are exposed to.
Always use a conditioner suitable for your specific leather type and test it on a small hidden area first.
Do not over-condition your boots. Too much product can darken, soften or affect the leather and may change the appearance of the finish.
Conditioner should not be used on all materials. Suede, snakeskin, metallic finishes, painted areas, embroidery and custom details may require different care.
For smooth leather boots, a high-quality boot polish may be used to help improve the appearance of light scuffs or scratches.
Use a neutral or matching colour polish and always patch test first.
Do not use polish on suede, snakeskin, metallic leather, painted finishes, embroidery, studs, diamantes or custom detail areas unless the product is specifically suitable for that material.
Using the wrong polish or colour may permanently mark or alter the appearance of your boots.
Store your boots in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, moisture and heat.
To help maintain their shape, use boot shapers, a boot tree, tissue paper or soft packing inside the boot shaft and foot area.
Do not store your boots crushed, folded, damp or in plastic for long periods. Poor storage can cause creasing, mould, shape loss, leather damage or colour transfer.
Make sure your boots are completely dry before storing them.
Specialty Leathers and Custom Details
Specialty leathers and custom details need extra care.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Suede
- Snakeskin
- Cowhide
- Metallic leather
- Painted finishes
- Hand-painted artwork
- Embroidery
- Studs
- Diamantes
- Sequins
- Custom panels
- Delicate trims
- Light-coloured leather
- White leather
- Pastel colours
- Textured finishes
These materials and details can be more delicate than standard smooth leather.
Avoid soaking, heavy rain, mud, harsh cleaners, oils, rubbing, scraping and heavy wear on delicate finishes. Some materials may naturally mark, soften, crease, shed, dull or change with wear.
Hand-painted, metallic, embroidered, studded, diamante or embellished areas should be treated as decorative features. They must be handled with extra care and should not be rubbed, scrubbed, soaked or exposed to harsh conditions.
Damage to specialty materials or decorative details caused by wear, rubbing, impact, water, incorrect cleaning or rough use is not considered a manufacturing fault.
Light-Coloured and White Leather
Light-coloured leather, white leather and pastel finishes require extra care.
These colours can show marks, dirt, denim transfer, colour transfer, scuffs and stains more easily than darker leather.
Avoid wearing light-coloured boots with clothing, jeans, bags or materials that may transfer dye.
Colour transfer, staining, marks from wear and changes in appearance caused by use are not considered manufacturing faults.
Delicate Rebel boots are not waterproof.
Leather and specialty materials can be damaged by water. Water exposure can cause staining, colour changes, hardening, cracking, shrinkage, shape changes, water marks or damage to decorative finishes.
Avoid wearing your boots in heavy rain, wet grass, mud, puddles, festivals with wet ground or soaked conditions.
If your boots are exposed to moisture, pat them dry immediately and allow them to air dry naturally.
Damage caused by water, moisture, soaking or failure to dry the boots correctly is not considered a manufacturing fault.
Do not expose your boots to direct heat or prolonged sunlight.
Heat can dry leather, cause cracking, affect colour, damage adhesives and alter the shape of your boots.
Do not leave your boots in hot cars, near windows, beside heaters, near fires or in direct sunlight for long periods.
Damage caused by heat, sun exposure or incorrect drying is not considered a manufacturing fault.
Natural Leather Characteristics
Leather is a natural material. Each pair of boots may have slight variations in colour, tone, texture, grain, markings and finish.
Natural markings, scars, wrinkles, creasing, softening and variations are part of genuine leather’s character and are not considered faults.
With wear, leather will naturally soften, crease and shape to your foot. This is expected and part of the normal ageing process.
Boots are made to be worn, but wear and tear will occur over time.
Normal wear and tear may include:
- Creasing
- Softening of leather
- Scuff marks
- Sole wear
- Heel wear
- Minor scratches
- Changes in shape
- Colour changes from use
- Stretching
- Marks from walking or rubbing
- Loss of shine
- Natural ageing of leather
- Wear to decorative details
These changes are expected with use and are not considered manufacturing faults.
The lifespan of your boots will depend on how often they are worn, how they are used, the conditions they are exposed to and how they are cared for.
What Is Not Considered a Manufacturing Fault
The following are not considered manufacturing faults:
- Damage caused by water, rain, mud or moisture
- Damage caused by heat, direct sunlight or incorrect drying
- Damage caused by harsh cleaners, chemicals, alcohol wipes or unsuitable products
- Damage caused by over-conditioning or using incorrect conditioner
- Damage caused by scrubbing, soaking or rubbing
- Damage caused by poor storage
- Damage caused by accidents, impact, scraping or rough use
- Damage caused by pets, children or third parties
- Damage caused by normal wear and tear
- Scuffs, scratches or marks from use
- Creasing, softening or stretching from wear
- Sole or heel wear from walking
- Colour transfer from clothing or other materials
- Staining from oils, makeup, fake tan, dirt, denim or liquids
- Damage to painted, metallic, embroidered, studded, diamante or custom details caused by wear or incorrect care
- Changes in natural leather texture, tone or grain
- Fit issues caused by incorrect measurements supplied for custom boots
- Damage caused by alterations or repairs completed by someone other than Delicate Rebel or an approved repairer
Custom boots may include specialty leathers, colours, artwork, embroidery, decorative finishes or delicate details. These features make your boots unique, but they may also require extra care.
Please treat custom boots as a special item.
Custom designs are made based on the information, sizing, measurements, references and approvals provided during the design process. Because custom boots are made to your selected design and measurements, it is important that all details are checked carefully before production.
Natural leather and handmade/custom processes may result in slight differences in colour, texture, placement, finish and appearance. These small variations are part of the custom-made process and are not considered faults.
Boots may feel firm when first worn and can soften slightly with use. This is normal for genuine leather.
We recommend wearing your boots in gradually, especially for long events, weddings, festivals, concerts or full-day wear.
Do not force zippers, pull tabs, seams or decorative features. If your boots feel too tight, difficult to zip or uncomfortable, please stop wearing them and contact us for guidance.
Damage caused by forcing the boots on or off, forcing zippers, incorrect fit, incorrect measurements or continued wear after discomfort is noticed may not be considered a manufacturing fault.
Only use products that are suitable for the material of your boots.
Before using any protector, conditioner, polish, cleaner or wipe, always patch test on a small hidden area first.
Delicate Rebel is not responsible for damage, staining, colour change or finish damage caused by third-party care products, incorrect products or incorrect application.
If you are unsure which product to use, please contact us before applying anything to your boots.
If you believe there is an issue with your boots, please contact us as soon as possible.
Please include:
- Your order number
- Clear photos of the full boot
- Close-up photos of the area of concern
- A description of the issue
- When the issue was first noticed
- How many times the boots have been worn
- What care products have been used
- Whether the boots have been exposed to water, heat, mud, heavy wear or cleaning products
We may request further information, photos or an inspection to assess the issue properly.
Please stop wearing the boots once an issue is noticed, as continued wear may worsen the damage and may affect the assessment.
Assessment of Product Issues
Each issue will be assessed individually.
Where the issue is found to be a manufacturing fault, we will work with you to provide an appropriate remedy in line with Australian Consumer Law.
Where the issue is found to be caused by incorrect care, misuse, water exposure, heat exposure, harsh products, accidental damage, normal wear and tear or failure to follow care instructions, it may not be considered a manufacturing fault.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law.
Nothing in this Boot Care Guide, our website terms, our returns information or our product care instructions excludes, restricts or modifies any rights you may have under Australian Consumer Law.
This care guide is provided to help customers care for their boots correctly and to explain what may be considered normal wear, natural leather behaviour, incorrect care or misuse.
Your boots are made for adventures, but they are still leather goods and need proper care.
Protect them before wear.
Keep them dry.
Clean them gently.
Condition only when needed.
Store them properly.
Treat specialty finishes with extra care.
Care for them well, and your boots will only get better with every adventure.
