Product care

Product Care

Leather is one of nature's most luxurious yet practical materials. There are many influencing factors that affect the quality of leather. Every hide has textural variations related to the animal's genetic makeup, environment and food supply. The resulting markings and wrinkles on a given hide should be considered part of the hides natural beauty and uniqueness.

Q. How do I care for my leather products?

A. All of our leather products are either aniline or vegetable tanned - methods which are considered to be the most luxurious and are reserved exclusively for the highest quality products. As the most natural of all tanning processes, they involve as few chemicals as possible to ensure that the natural grain and DNA of the leather is not compromised. The more naked the product’s finish, the more demanding it is of the very finest, flawless skins.

As this leaves the leather’s surface more vulnerable to potential scuffing or marking, however, it also demands a greater level of care and upkeep.

Due to the balance of materials and processes involved, some particular details in all leathers are not completely resistant to damage and can very occasionally be susceptible to sudden or prolonged atmospheric changes such as temperature and humidity. Each individual hide is unique, and while we consider this to be a part of the beauty of working with this most organic of materials, it also means that natural blemishes can sometimes occur. Due to the high quality of leathers used, there may be signs of veining, wrinkling or colour nuances in their grain. These are all characteristics consistent with a genuine raw material; they are not imperfections but rather subtle evidence of the leathers’ purity.

Q. How do I clean my leather products?

A. We recommend cleaning the leather exterior of your item with a soft cloth and warm, mild soapy water. Ensure that the cloth is thoroughly wrung out so it feels very slightly damp, and gently wipe the surface of the leather. Repeat using clean water.

Q. How do I clean my suede products?

A. If the suede product has been caught in the rain, we recommend that it is left to dry for an entire day before attempting to clean it. Once dry, the suede footwear exterior should gently be cleaned with a soft brush. We recommend that suede skirts, trousers and coats are taken to a specialist dry cleaner.

Q. How do I store my leather products?

A. When not in use, we recommend storing your leather item in its soft bag in a cool, dry environment.

Q. Do you have any suggestions?

A. We recommend that your leather products are not left in prolonged sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sunlight or other high intensity sources of light can lead to irreversible discolouring, fading and deformation of the leather. Do not expose to wet, damp or humid conditions or high temperatures. Water can be harmful if it penetrates the leather and can lead to the appearance of bubbles or marks which cannot be removed. Never soak the leather nor apply detergents and do not wash the fabric lining. Refrain from ‘feeding’ the leather with products such as waxes, polishes or saddle soaps. This may leave the surface of the leather sticky, attracting dirt and causing irreversible damage.

Leather & Suede Care

To help maintain the appearance and prolong the life of your leather and suede pieces, we recommend the following:

1. Due to the delicate nature of our high quality leathers and suede’s products, we recommend, in order to maintain their appearance that they are kept in a dust bag during storage.

2. Patent leathers are susceptible to discoloration due to the plasticizers used to prevent cracking of the patent finish. Discoloration can happen to any colour patent leather but is more perceptible on light shades. To avoid discoloration, keep your patent leather item in its dust bag and try to avoid contact with darker coloured items.

3. Colour fastness cannot be guaranteed on suede or leather pieces. Try to avoid contact between your suede and leather pieces and paler materials.

4. Our leather goods are made from the finest leather and it is advisable to alternate wear to prolong their life.

Shoe Care

To help maintain the appearance and prolong the life of your leather shoes, we recommend the following:

1. Leave wet shoes to dry naturally, never use artificial heat. Use a shoe tree to help maintain the shape of your shoes while drying.

2. Top pieces on heels (heel caps) are a replaceable component. Do not allow them to wear down - they should be replaced regularly by a reputable shoe repairer.

3. Use a shoe horn to prevent damage to the back of your leather shoes when putting on and taking off.

4. Wearing shoes on very uneven, abrasive surfaces or when driving may weaken the shoes and could spoil the leather sole or intricate components. Thin and delicate heels must be worn with extra consideration.

5. Shoes embellished with beads and sequins are especially delicate. Please take particular care when wearing them as scuffing may damage them.

6. Insoles on mules and sandals may lift due to heat and perspiration. This is an unavoidable consequence of normal wear, but can be remedied by re-sticking, a very simple job that any reputable shoe repairer can do.

Handbag, Travel Bags & Briefcases Care

To help maintain the appearance and prolong the life of your bag, we recommend the following:

1. Please take care not to over-fill your bag as it may lose its form and you may damage the handles. Do not overfill leather bags and cases – they may lose their shape.

2. Bags embellished with beads and sequins are especially delicate. Please take particular care when wearing them as scuffing may damage them.

3. If your leather product gets wet take immediate action. Blot with a soft, absorbent cloth and leave to dry naturally, in a cool dark place. Please be aware that force drying will damage the product as will over stretching. When the leather is dry apply a soft warm cloth to restore back to original condition.

All our leather bags and business cases are designed to carry full loads of documents but we do not advise overfilling them – they may lose their shape and this can cause unnecessary strain on zips and other metal components. We do not recommend our briefcases are used to carry heavy laptops, unless otherwise stated.

The 9 golden rules for shoe care

1. A new pair of shoes should never be worn for many consecutive hours.

2. Once your feet are completely accustomed to the shoes, you can begin to wear them all day.

3. Never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Let them rest for at least a day before wearing them again.

4. Always use a shoehorn when putting on your shoes.

5. Before removing a lace-up shoe, loosen the laces completely so the shoe slips off more easily.

6. Once shoes are taken off, insert the made-to-measure shoetrees.

7. Shoetrees should also be used when shoes are wet from rain or snow: left to dry for an entire day.

8. Each time you wear a pair of shoes they should be cleaned and polished.

9. When you don't wear your shoes, wax and put them in a drawstring bag, and keep down in a box.