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Leather Care

Natural aging, wear, and patina.

It is important to look after your beautiful leather bag and the next step is to remember to treat it kindly so that it will be with you for a great number of years. A frequent maintenance schedule will help to keep your bag in fantastic condition whilst also avoiding some of the issues that are common to all leather goods

As leather is a natural product, anything that is made from it, like your new bag, will age with time. Leather goods need to be looked after to keep them in tip-top condition over the years, in just the same way as our skin. There is no way to avoid them aging, even if looked after, but the look and feel of the leather as it ages often makes the bag even more attractive.

The appearance that the aging process gives to the leather is known as Patina and is a much-admired effect that adds uniqueness and character to your bag. Some try to emulate this effect with dyes and treatments, but it is never as beautiful as the patina produced by the natural aging of the leather and the everyday wear and tear which allows your bag to tell its own life story with each mark scratch and crack telling its own tale.

How can you keep your bag in good condition?

It’s really as simple as keeping it clean, dry and regularly moisturizing it. Just like skin, a leather bag needs regular (preferably daily) moisturizing to protect it. There are many products available for moisturizing leather, but for day to day maintenance a dab of sunflower or vegetable oil rubbed over the bag evenly with a clean dry cloth is all it really needs. There are also moisturizers available that will help a little with water resistance.

What happens to your leather bag with time?

  • As your bag ages, the leather will lose natural moisture and oils.
  • The leather will crack and the fibers can break if the leather becomes too dry.
  • The more use your bag gets, the more likely this is to happen.

Tips

  • When using a new product on your leather bag, always spot test first in an unseen area (e.g. the underneath of the bag). Apply a small amount of the treatment as directed and leave for at least 24 hours to ensure that it doesn’t adversely affect the color or texture of the leather before applying to the visible areas of the bag.
  • Never use baby wipes or any other product that may contain lanolin.
  • If you decide to use a waterproofing product for your bag, we strongly recommend first using a care product or moisturizer to lock in the moisture, keeping the fibers and skin supple before coating with the waterproofer. Only apply the waterproofing product to the exposed areas of the bag (keep the inside untreated so that you can still moisturize the leather from the back).

Scratches and scrapes are inevitable and a little care when putting your bag down and avoiding sharp objects is always a good idea, but with everyday use of your bag, they are virtually unavoidable. There are a few tips and tricks however to help avoid or treat minor scratches and scrapes.

Applying clear ‘natural’ boot polish, vaseline or saddle soap can add a protective layer that will help to minimize small scratches. If you do get a small scratch on your bag, rub the area with your fingers as the natural oils can help to cover it. For larger scratches, adding a tiny drop of oil and allowing it to soak in for a few minutes before buffing with a soft cloth to remove any excess can often help. If the scratches remain noticeable, then a leather dye or polish may be the best solution (again, always test this on an unseen area). Be Aware: Any dye or polish that you treat the bag with is highly likely to change the color of the bag, try a small hidden area first before treating the whole bag.

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