Raffia Shoe Care: Keeping The Kiwi Bow Looking Fresh
By Birdies | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Tips & Care
A practical raffia shoe care routine for The Kiwi Bow, from brushing and spot cleaning to drying and storage, so the woven texture and bow stay crisp.
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
- 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 - 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.
