Quick answer
Treat The Kiwi Bow to dry-first raffia shoe care: brush loose dust, spot clean only the soiled area with a barely damp cloth, and air-dry away from heat. Then store the pair stuffed and separated so the fringe and leather bow keep their shape.
Why raffia needs a light touch
Raffia is a woven plant fiber, so it responds poorly to soaking and heat. Water can soften the weave and distort the square-toe shape, while a radiators or direct sun can dry the fibers unevenly. The Kiwi Bow adds two more delicate parts: a leather bow tipped with metal hardware and a statement fringe edge. That combination means you should clean the raffia and the bow differently rather than treating the whole sandal as one washable piece.
The exception: when spot cleaning is not enough
If the raffia is heavily saturated or the leather sock is soaked, do not try to speed drying with a hair dryer or heater. Blot what you can and let the sandal air-dry fully before wearing. For stains that do not lift with a damp cloth, stop rather than scrubbing, because aggressive rubbing can fray the fringe and dull the leather bow.
Step-by-step raffia shoe care for The Kiwi Bow
- Brush off loose dust: Use a soft brush or dry cloth to lift dust from the raffia band and fringe before any moisture touches the shoe. Work in one direction along the weave. Checkpoint: if the brush snags, switch to a softer cloth.
- Spot clean with a barely damp cloth: Dampen a microfiber cloth with cool water and wring it out until no drips fall. Gently dab only the soiled raffia area, then blot with a dry cloth. Do not soak the sandal or scrub the fringe. Common mistake: wetting the whole shoe instead of the spot.
- Wipe the leather bow and metal hardware: Use a separate dry or barely damp cloth to wipe the leather bow and metal tips. Dry immediately with a soft cloth so water does not sit on the hardware. Checkpoint: the bow should feel dry to the touch before you move on.
- Air-dry away from heat: Stuff the square toe lightly with plain white paper to hold its shape, then let the pair air-dry at room temperature away from radiators, sun, and hair dryers. Remove the paper once dry. Common mistake: using newspaper, which can transfer ink to the leather sock.
- Store the pair separated and stuffed: Once fully dry, store The Kiwi Bow in a dust bag or box with the fringe and bow lying flat. Keep the two sandals apart so the metal hardware does not press into the raffia. Checkpoint: never stack heavy shoes on top of the bow.
Product facts for The Kiwi Bow
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The Kiwi Bow - Black Multi Raffia: The Kiwi Bow is a slip-on one-band raffia sandal with a statement fringe edge and a leather bow tipped with metal hardware. Clean the raffia band and the leather bow separately, and keep metal hardware dry to avoid water spots.
The Kiwi Bow - Black Multi Raffia
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The Kiwi Bow - Black Multi Raffia: The square-toe leather sock is padded for all-day comfort. A padded leather sock holds moisture, so air-dry the sandal fully before storing it to prevent odor and shape loss.