Yanko classic Belgian loafer smoke reverse kudu suede

A summery unlined Belgian loafer from the Spanish brand Yanko. Made with a Blake stitched construction which can be resoled, they have a thin half rubber sole which makes them durable, and they have proper leather board heel stiffener. You have all the comfort of the unlined Belgian loafer model, yet with properties that give them a long lifespan.


This classic Belgian loafer make-up works well both with a pair of shorts at the beach and with a linen suit to the summer party. Made on an elegant slightly almond shaped last, in a lovely smoke reverse kudu suede leather from the British tannery Charles F. Stead.


Small in size, see sizing guidance below. To get the best possible fit on loafers, who don't have lacing that can be adjusted, a good tip can be to use self-adhesive leather tongue pads. Works perfect if you for example experience heel slippage, and extra good if you have a low instep. Also if you have slim feet a thin leather insole can be excellent.


Construction:
Blake stitched


Sole:
Thin half rubber sole. Heel height 22 mm (7/8").


Sizes:

They are considered small in size compared to for example Goodyear welted shoes from Yanko, Skolyx, TLB Mallorca, Crockett & Jones and Carmina's sizes.


In general, the following apply:

- If you have a size EU41 / UK7 / US8 or below in welted shoes, then most people choose 0.5 size larger in their Belgian loafers with thin half rubber sole.

- If you are between size EU41,5 / UK7,5 / US8,5 and EU45 / UK11 / US12 in welted shoes, then most people choose 1 size bigger in their Belgian loafers with thin half rubber sole.

- If you are size EU45,5 / UK11,5 / US12,5 or above in welted shoes, then most people choose 1,5 size bigger in their Belgian loafers with thin half rubber sole.


More in-depth sizing guidance and info on how you'll find your base size in welted shoes can be found in the tab Size guide below. If you are still uncertain on your size, e-mail ktj@skolyx.se.


NOTE: For women, go with your regular shoe size. They are manufactured in EU sizes, so conversions to UK / US may fluctuate slightly. US sizes listed are men's US sizing.


Shoe care:

Use a suede brush followed by Saphir Super Invulner to protect from water and dirt.

Construction:
Blake construction is a traditional construction method where one do a seam through the insole, upper leather and outsole to keep them strongly together. This is done with a Blake sewing machine. The construction gives flexible, comfortable shoes. Can normally be resoled by a cobbler with the right equipment, but a limited amount of times.

All Blake stitched shoes have leather board heel stiffeners (cheaper brands usually use harder plastic heel stiffeners) which adapt to your feet.

Leather:
The Blake stitched shoes we offer use smooth full grain calf leather, quality embossed calf grain leather or fine suede like reverse kudu suede. They are sourced from well-renowned European tanneries, mainly from Charles F. Stead in the UK. The models in patent leather use material from Europe.

Sole:
There are two different types of soles used for the Blake constructed shoes we sell (under the tab Product details and on the photos you see which are used for respective model).

Thin rubber sole - A so-called city rubber sole with a slim profile just like a leather sole, with a rubber composition that offers good grip and excellent durability.

Rubber sole - In most cases these are so-called Traveler soles which is a soft and flexible rubber sole type that are very comfortable.

Which shoe care products to use:
Before use, go over the shoes gently with a a suede brush followed by Saphir Medaille d'Or Super Invulner to protect from water and dirt. Use Saphir Renovetine Suede Spray in Beige when the colour needs to be improved and to give some nourishment. For more thorough yet gentle cleaning we recommend Saphir Medaille d'Or Omninettoyant suede cleaner. We recommend using cedar wood shoe trees to prevent unnecessary creasing and extend the lifespan of your footwear.

Read more about how to use these products on the respective product pages, or in the shoe care guide linked below.

Basic shoe care:
- Don’t use the same pair for two consecutive days
- Brush / wipe the shoes off after use
- Use shoe trees and shoehorn
- Treat regular leather with shoe cream, treat suede and textile with waterproofing spray
Learn more on these steps in this guide.

Further shoe care info:
For more on how to clean, refresh and protect suede and nubuck, read this guide.