Italian Leather Care Tips!

We’ve been getting quite a bit of traffic through the store lately, and I have found myself frequently writing down our blog web address for all those interested in the maintenance of their leather garments and bags.  Now I realize I have already posted all this information as updates in the blog, but with all things in life there is always room for improvement.  I wanted to make finding our tips quicker and easier for all involved.  That being said, please look below for information for the treatment of your leather product.  As always, I encourage  you to comment if you have a specific leather care question I have not answered.

Leather Garment Care

Dry Climate:Condition at least 4 times a year, and always condition after getting the jacket/garmet even slightly wet. This will help avoid cracking.

Wet Climate:Use a waterproof cream or spray 4 times a year. If your climate is extremely wet, waterproof every 2 months. Condition the garmet/jacket, wait till it is completely dry, then waterproof it. This will help keep the leather looking new after using the waterproofing coat.

Snow/Salt: Salt is a killer for leather, because it drys out the natural oils, which leads to cracking. Imagine yourself after a long day at the beach! Your skin needs moister! Salt also stains. The best way to remove salt is to use a very soft sponge, dampen it, and lightly press the sponge on the affected areas. If the salt is dry, it will be much easier to see how well you are removing it. It is best to try and use the sponge before the salt has dried. After you have done this, recondition the affected area.

**If you live in an area that has many climate changes (i.e. the mid-western states of America), we recommend that you condition it 4 times, and waterproof only during the wet season. Waterproof it once again at the end of the wet season. This last waterproofing will last throughout the occasional summer showers.

Storage!Always store your leather garmet/jacket in a cloth bag. Leather needs to breathe! Do not seal it up in a plastic bag. If your bag did not come with a cloth bag, and all you have is plastic, then put holes in the plastic and do not tie the bottom. Store the garmet/jacket at room temperature, preferably in a dimly lighted area. Try NOT to fold it.

Products to be on the lookout for: Zymol leather care kit, Meguiars Gold Class Cleaner and Conditioner, Lexus leather care kit.

When in doubt, consult a luxury car dealership. The majority of leathers used in their interiors are the same kinds of high quality leathers used in garmet and jacket production.

Stain Removal Methods

Garment and Car leathers (Nappa lambskin):This is a very delicate leather, and therefore must be treatedwith the utmost care. Using standard leather car care products is fine, but make-up removal creams tend to be a lot gentler on the leather, preventing premature wear and tear. Garments, such as jackets and clothing, are even more delicate. Try rubbing the gentlest make-up remover onto a very small area, and wait till it dries. We ask you to do this to make sure the remover did not leave a stain of its own. If it didn’t, then proceed to clean the entire garment.

Bag and Briefcase leathers (Vacchetta): Bag leathers tend to be a lot less delicate as they are made from much sturdier types of leathers. We use mostly Vacchetta leather. Florentine Vacchetta leather is cowhide from cows that have been raised in controlled pastures in Tuscany. Therefore minimal scratches and scuffs can be easily repaired by rubbing them out with your fingers or a standard leather conditioner. Liquid normally will bead and wipe off easily.

Suede:The best conclusion I came to, after asking just about everyone that works in our factory, is that suede is best clean with a soft brush. So the next time you are about to throw out an old toothbrush, keep it and put it away for the future. We all are inclined to not buy suede do to its high maintenance nature, but wind up buying something suede during our lifetime. Old toothbrushes come in handy outside the military as well!

Shoe Leather:Naturally shoe leather can vary, so the treating and cleaning of them vary as well. It is hard to anticipate how to care for shoe leather stains, aside from using shoe polish. Please ask directly if you have a question regarding a specific type of stain.

 Ink: Impossible! Naturally the sooner to treat an ink stain the better chance you have at removing it. Some sites suggest rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab. We do not recommend this. Ink is absorbed into the leather, so avoid this stain at all costs!

 Coffee: Medium, coffee should wipe right off a leather like Vacchetta, but for suede we recommend you remove as much liquid by patting it out of the leather. Do Not Rub It! Use lukewarm water slightly soapy, then with a damp cloth to get the soap out, then pat dry with a dry cloth.

 Oils: Hard, use absorbent powders like Talcum and Cornstarch. Cover the area of the stain completely with a thick layer of powder, and let sit for a while (hour or two). Gently blow the powder off. If some powder remains, leave it be. It means it is still absorbing the oil. Brush off lightly later.

Also please reference our Website for information on different types of leathers, and leather terminology!