How did the Angelus Brand start?Updated 7 days ago

Angelus started in Chicago almost a century ago. Paul T. Angelus, a young Greek immigrant, earned his first dollars shining shoes. He saved, moved to Los Angeles, and opened his own shine stand. That small start set the course for the company.

From Shine Stand to Manufacturing

In Los Angeles, the family began making their own polish and care products for daily use at the stand. Demand grew and the Angelus name stuck with customers who wanted reliable shine and leather care. Over the decades the product line expanded beyond polish into dyes, cleaners, and finishes.

The Culver City Era

Angelus set up in Culver City and stayed there for nearly 60 years. The company focused on making consistent, professional-grade products and building a reputation with cobblers, shoe repair shops, and retailers across the country.

Moving to Santa Fe Springs

To scale production, Angelus moved from Culver City to a larger facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. Manufacturing remains in the United States with a trained crew and tight quality control.

From Shoe Polish to Custom Culture

As sneaker culture surged, artists began using Angelus acrylic leather paints for custom work. The brand evolved from a traditional shoe polish maker into a go-to system for restoration and customization, while still serving pros who need polish, conditioners, and dyes.

Angelus Direct: Ecommerce and Community

Angelus Direct launched to serve creators worldwide with fast fulfillment, education, and support. The ecommerce arm helped push the fifth-generation, family-owned brand to a global audience while keeping production close to home.

Today

Angelus is still family-owned, still focused on quality, and still rooted in the same craft Paul T. Angelus started. The lineup now covers polish, cleaners, conditioners, dyes, and industry-standard acrylic leather paints used by artists, customizers, cobblers, and sneaker restorers around the world.