A guide to ensuring that your leather handbag or wallet is in the best condition to be passed down for generations to come.
Leather is an extremely durable product and has the potential to age beautifully with time if it is properly cared for. These simple tips can assist in prolonging the lifespan of your luxury leather goods.
How to avoid exposing your leather bag to wet conditions
Keeping your leather goods dry and away from rain can assist in protecting the leather’s quality and texture. To prevent your luxury leather handbag from getting wet on rainy days, keep a small plastic bag or rain cover in your bag and cover the surface that is exposed to the rain or simply carry it safely under your jacket. Some of our collections such as the Saffiano Collection, Fleur Collection and Afican Collection do have a specialised water resistant finishing over the leather, however extensive wet conditions will still damage your leather.
How to correctly store your leather handbag
The South African sun can be a huge threat to your handbag when exposed over prolonged periods of time as it can cause the dye or pigment color to fade. Properly storing your luxury leather handbag away from the sun, dust, and moisture can assist in prolonging the lifespan. It is recommended that the bag is stored in a cool, dry place and inside a dust bag that is made from breathable material. Avoid storing leather in plastic bags or sealed containers as it can cause mold to form. To assist the bag in keeping its structure, fill the inside with safe stuffing such as packing paper, acid-free tissue paper, white towels or a whiteT-shirt.
How to clean your Saffiano leather handbag
Saffiano leather is a grained leather and requires a leather-cleaning brush to get the best result. Use a dollop of leather cleaner or unscented dish soap and gently work it into the grooves of the leather with the brush, avoiding any hard pressure. Dry the bag off with a clean cloth and leave it to dry - avoiding direct sunlight that could cause the leather’s colour to fade.
It’s important to keep in mind that any genuine leather product will age with time and develop imperfections from daily use. Similar to a good bottle of wine, leather pieces should be properly cared for but must also be allowed to develop its own unique character over time.
In short,
- Keep the leather clean. Try to brush your leather down with a damp cloth at least once a week.
- Use a damp cloth. Start by brushing off any dirt of grime from the leather with your hand, then switch to a damp cloth.
- Do not use any soaps or cleansers
- Dry your leather slowly
- Try and avoid getting your leather very wet
- Do not store in plastic containers/bags as leather needs to breathe
- Do not store in direct sunlight
- Do not allow cosmetics, perfumes or hand creams to come in contact with the leather
- Do not use any chemicals such as scotch guard products unless tested and approved