Product Care
Garment care
Leather is prone to stretching and changing shape. To help the jacket keep its original shape, when not in use, hang the garment on a thick coat hanger with its buttons and zippers done up. Store the garment out of direct light to avoid fading, keep the garment dry and on its hanger, give it space to breathe and don't store it folded or inside plastic bags.
Leather care
The natural properties of leather provide some resistance to water and dirt in day to day wear, but a little bit of extra care will keep the leather in top condition. Any water, dust or dirt that comes in contact with the jacket should be wiped off with a dry cloth as soon as possible to avoid staining. If the marks are more stubborn, use a slightly damp cloth then allow the leather jacket to air dry.
To maintain the original condition of the jacket, do not machine wash, dry, steam or iron the garment. If the garment has become heavily soiled with dirt or grease, the jacket can be cleaned by a specialist leather dry cleaner. Specialist leather dry cleaning is expensive so regularly wiping the jacket down to avoid the build up of dirt will go a long way to keeping the jacket out of the cleaners.
If your leather garment becomes very wet, the risk is that it will dry out, becoming stiff and prone to cracking. Allow the jacket to dry at room temperature, away from heat or fans for 1-2 days (or as needed). You may find that the leather will dry better if it is placed on a towel to absorb water. When the leather is almost dry, add a leather conditioner or moisturiser to keep it flexible, and when the leather has completely dried, add another coat. Make sure to care for your leather jacket well when it gets wet, because leather can be irreparably damaged by moisture and mildew.
As the jacket ages it can dry out, losing its natural oils and condition, affecting its colour and strength. Protect it with a conditioner designed specifically for the type of leather your jacket is made out of. However, you can expect some changes with wear. Leather will soften and the appearance will be altered as the leather ages adding to the overall beauty of your jacket.
To restore the leather, add a small amount of the leather conditioning product onto a dry cloth. Move the cloth in circular motions all over the leather jacket, massaging the conditioner deeply into the hardened fabric. Concentrate on rough and hardened areas like the elbows and outer edges. Add more conditioner to the cloth as needed. Then allow the jacket to air out for 2 to 3 days before wearing it. Hang it in an airy wardrobe or on a chair where it can breathe.
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Suede and nubuck care
Suede and nubuck don't have leather's natural resiliance against weather and wear. Suede is made from the more delicate underside of the skin or hide, then buffed to create a raised, velvet-like 'nap'. Nubuck is made from the top side of the skin or hide, like leather, but has undergone a similar buffing process to create the nap.
The nap surface on suede and nubuck is delicate. If you want to keep it looking new, before you wear it for the first time, protect the surface with a suede and nubuck protective product. Products based on 3M's Scotchgaurd are reliable for repelling against water and stains. The repellant can be re-applied when you notice water no longer beads up and rolls off the surface.
The nap can be maintained by brushing with a dry sponge or soft clothes brush. Use a brush with natural or rubberised bristles, not a wire or hard bristled brush. Regular brushing will stop dirt from setting into the surface and creating stains. For nubuck, specific wire-bristled brushes are available and achieve good results.
If you do have a stain, remove it as quickly as possible using a gentle abraisive surface like a nail file. Specialised suede and nubuck cleaning blocks can be purchased for the job. Abraisive cleaning should only be done when the surface is dry, so use a towel to dab and soak away moisture, then allow the surface to dry before buffing. Specialised solvent-based suede and nubuck cleaning product can be used on more stubborn stains, however serious stains may require professional cleaning.
Over time, exposure to the elements can dry and stiffen the surface. Specialised suede and nubuck conditioning products can be used to restore the oils that have been lost.
