Suede: The Misunderstood Material

Suede has a reputation problem. It is widely regarded as delicate, high-maintenance, unsuited to practical life. This reputation is not entirely undeserved — suede does require more care than smooth leather — but it obscures a material of genuine beauty and, when properly treated, considerable durability.

Suede comes from the inner split of the hide — the layer beneath the full-grain surface. It is softer, more flexible, and has a distinctive napped texture that catches light differently depending on the angle. A suede loafer at dusk looks like a different shoe than it does at noon.

The care required is straightforward: keep it dry when possible, brush it regularly with a suede brush to maintain the nap, and treat it with a protective spray before first wear. If it gets wet, allow it to dry naturally away from direct heat, then brush when dry. Most damage to suede comes not from the material's fragility but from incorrect care.

At PabDer, we use suede selectively — in styles where its softness and visual character are assets rather than compromises. A driving shoe in suede has a particular ease that smooth leather cannot replicate. A loafer in navy suede is, we would argue, one of the most elegant things a person can wear.

We think suede deserves its rehabilitation. We are working on it.