Suede

Made from the underside of a calf or kid skin, suede has a beautifully soft textured surface. However its open pores means that it can become dirty and absorbs liquids quickly.

So to protect your suede shoes, spray them liberally with suede waterproof spray before use. Often one coat is not adequate, so perhaps two or three coats should be applied, leaving a few minutes between each coat. This will really help ward off the rain marks.

If marked with dirt, you can get these off with an Indian gum rubber, which should be available in all good quality cobblers.

Invest in a suede brush or latex sponge to remove any dust or light marks that may find their way onto your shoes.  You can also 'brush' the suede so it all falls the same way giving it a more even appearance. A sponge is a lot gentler than a brush so is perfect for use on delicate suede such as kid suede.

Most importantly when storing your shoes, keep them out of direct light, or your bright red shoes will fade and become pink within a couple of months.