How to care for your leather goods so they last a lifetime
Leather is a living material. The pieces you make or buy are used every day, and whatever care you give them, they will take knocks and wear through friction, in your hands or in your pockets.
That is normal, and it is part of their charm. The idea is to watch how your piece evolves and to maintain it regularly. Treated this way, a leather object can last from one generation to the next.
Storage and points of attention
Care starts with everyday habits: do not store your leather in extreme conditions, and do not torture it too much. Leather is very strong by nature, even when thin, but it has its limits.
- Avoid places that are too humid, such as a cellar or the side of a pool.
- Avoid long exposure to the sun, on the beach or on a car dashboard.
- Be gentle with the pockets of your wallet or cardholder, and do not overfill them.
When I design a pattern, I anticipate wear in the sensitive areas, for example by doubling the stitches where the leather works the most. Still, treating your piece as a noble object will only do it good.
Cleaning and feeding products
You probably already have useful products at home. The photo above shows the same blue-green leather with three different treatments, next to its natural colour: black wax, coconut oil and transparent wax.
Each oil or wax gives a slightly different result, more or less dark and glossy. Always test on a hidden area first. A thin layer of product and regular brushing are enough to keep leather in good shape for many years.
In case of an accident
It happens. Here are the essentials to have at hand:
- Fuller’s earth (terre de Sommières in French), well known for absorbing grease stains;
- a dedicated leather cream or a neutral, colourless shoe cream;
- a soft-bristle brush.
If the leather gets scratched, take a soft cloth and rub in small circles to blend the scratch.
If you stain it, cover the stain with Fuller’s earth, let it absorb for about 15 minutes, then brush it off.
If the leather looks dry, brush it about once every two months with a colourless shoe care product.
Whatever you do, use very little product and stay gentle. Regular care limits stains and also evens out the colour of your leather as it ages.