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If you decide to invest in a high quality leather bag, it’s vital that you savvy up on how to take care of it properly. Phil, our leather expert, shares his leather bag care advice to ensure that you get the most out of your pieces for decades to come…
“Before working for Maxwell-Scott, I owned a leather goods company with my brother on York’s iconic street, The Shambles. After 30 years or so in the industry, I have learned that simplicity is key to taking care of leather. It’s a raw and organic material – you have to treat it correctly in order to get the best out of it.”
Phil – Operations Manager
Our signature leather is naturally vegetable tanned using organic tannin extracts from substances like chestnut and mimosa. The natural extracts are both hand and drum dyed into our hides in order to achieve a rich and earthy tone. The result is an authentic and characterful finish that is entirely different to chemically dyed leather. The main advantage of vegetable-tanned leather is the manner in which it matures with age. As there are no chemical coatings to preserve the hide, its natural evolution is allowed to shine through. The patina development can only happen if your leather bag
is exposed to the elements. It is imperative that you do not store your leather bag away in a dark cupboard for a long period of time – like anything natural, it needs air to breathe. If you’re taking it with you on your travels, make sure that you carry it in a breathable cotton dust bag.
You would never feed your plants with anything other than water – treat your leather bag with the same mindset and ensure that you solely use organic substances to treat it. Rubbing any form of balm into the grain of your bag will somewhat slow down the patina process however it is an important leather care ritual to upkeep. Using a natural cream once every 2-3 months will prevent any cracking and smooth out any small scratches which occur from everyday wear. We wholly recommend Skidmore’s leather cream as it is essentially made from pure beeswax, known for its soothing and healing qualities.
Natural is always best but sometimes a little technology can help further enhance your care routine. If you want to really keep on top of your leather bag’s condition, storing a micro fibre cloth in an internal pocket of your bag is a smart idea. Micro fibre material is constructed of polyamide fibers that are woven together to produce the perfect platform for trapping dust particles leaving your bag in pristine condition. Plus, if you get your leather bag drenched in the rain a micro fibre cloth will absorb moisture quicker than any other fabric. Simply buff the cloth gently into the grain in a circular motion for maximum impact.
A quality piece of leather craftsmanship boasts many other features than just its leather form. The metalware, stitching and handles are all to bear in mind when thinking about the maintenance of your leather bag. Cast alloy metal is hard-wearing but may scratch if your bag is left precariously in storage. Avoid any unnecessary scratching by wrapping the exposed metal in pieces of cotton so it is safely covered. Your leather bag’s handle is the part of your bag that you will touch the most throughout the day. We craft with full grain leather, the top layer of the hide, to assure the best durability however you still need to be careful about stretching. Never hang your leather bag up at home or in the office as it will dramatically affect the shape of your handle. Zip sticking slightly? Run a clear wax candle along the teeth to loosen the abrasive areas.
