Bags, Shoes, and Small Accessories: A Beginner's Guide to Leather Care by Item

Leather goods are actually a familiar presence in our daily lives. From clothing and shoes that we wear, to small items like bags and wallets, and even furniture materials like chairs and rugs, leather appears everywhere. There are many types of leather, too—cowhide, pigskin, sheepskin, and more—and depending on the tanning and processing methods, the appearance and texture can change dramatically. Despite this wide variety, there are common reasons why leather is chosen as a material for such a broad range of items, including the following characteristics.

・High durability that allows for many years of use

・A sense of luxury created by its sheen and color

・Excellent heat retention

It's precisely because of these qualities that leather can be considered a material beloved by people of all ages and genders, across generations. At the same time, there are certain things to keep in mind precisely because it is leather. This time, we've picked out leather care methods by item. Here are some pointers for continuing to use the leather goods you already own for many years to come.

Caring for Leather Bags for the First Time

A leather bag with its sense of luxury is an item that works well both for everyday use and for more formal occasions such as business settings. Another reason it's so well loved is its high durability, which resists wear even when packed full of belongings. There are many types of leather bags—full-leather types made entirely of leather, and types where only the handles or straps are leather—but in every case, continued use brings out more sheen and deepens the color, letting you experience the changes that come with age.

Wide Tote Bag M / REN

This REN bag, made with soft, naturally expressive pigskin, is a full-leather type in which everything—from the body to the handles, decorations, and interior—is made of leather. Scratches and color unevenness in the leather are proof of a natural material. Rather than hiding these with coatings, the bag is finished in a way that treasures the raw texture of the leather.

2-Way Square Bag / ZUTTO

This 2-way bag, which can be carried as a handbag or worn as a shoulder bag, has leather handles, a leather bottom, and a leather zipper. The nume leather, close to skin tone, gradually transforms into an amber color with continued use.

Before Using Your Bag: Make Waterproof Spray Your Ally First

Before using a leather bag, the first thing to keep in mind is preventing stains. We recommend a waterproof spray made for leather goods. Spraying beforehand coats the leather so that dirt and water—leather's greatest enemies—have a harder time sticking to it.

TAPIR's waterproof spray for leather is made with natural materials. It comes in a compact spray bottle and can be used on leather goods including bags and shoes. Since it may leave marks depending on the material, first spray a small amount on an inconspicuous area (such as the underside of the bag's base). If there's no problem, spray the entire surface from a distance of about 20 to 30 cm.

Caring for Your Bag After Use

Brushing is the basic care after use. Walking around outside with your bag can cause fine dust to accumulate, and setting it on the ground can also leave dirt on it. In such cases, choose a brush with soft bristles and carefully brush the dirt away.

REDECKER's Shoe Care 6-Piece Set is designed for leather shoes, but the soft horsehair brush can also be used for bag care. Gently and rhythmically brush across the surface with light, quick strokes. The key to brushing is not to press too hard.

Using It Is the Best Maintenance of All

For a leather bag, using it is the best form of maintenance there is. Because leather goods naturally contain oils, they have the property of protecting themselves from drying out and developing a sheen. Also, touching the bag with your hands every day allows it to retain even more oils, deepening its color and shine—a quality unique to leather goods that you can really feel.

PORTE DOCUMENT Gris・Grey / LEON FLAM

SAC21H Bleu・Blue / LEON FLAM

Depending on the type of leather, if a bag is stored unused for, say, an entire season, a whitish film may appear on the surface.

The bag shown above, from LEON FLAM, has been treated with a wax finish known as paraffin processing. Because the final finishing of leather rich in oils involves this paraffin treatment, minor scratches become less noticeable when rubbed. However, if the bag is left unused, the paraffin can rise to the surface and appear as a whitish stain. In such cases, gently wiping it with a soft cloth will blend it back into the leather and remove it. This phenomenon also occurs less frequently the more you use the bag, which is why it can truly be said that using a bag is its own form of maintenance.

Caring for Leather Shoes for the First Time

Next, let's look at the maintenance of leather shoes, another classic leather item. Leather shoes, too, have been cherished by many people over the years for their high durability. As footwear suitable even for formal occasions, they've been made all over the world. Because leather shoes come into contact with the ground as you walk, they tend to pick up dirt and dust more easily than bags do, and the inside of the shoe is nearly sealed off while being worn. For this reason, removing dirt and moisture is the key point of shoe care.

chausser Men's 2-Way Shoes BR / chausser

These chausser 2-way shoes have a striking traditional silhouette. By stitching the upper, insole, and outsole together in one pass, the design achieves a clean, refined look. Made of glossy cowhide, the shoes fit snugly around the foot, from the sole to the upper, wrapping the foot inside.

Short Boots TEXAS19 LEATHER TAUPE / SECCHIARI MICHELE (Sechiari Michele)

These short boots use an upper made of cowhide crafted using a traditional Italian tanning method known as bacchetta leather. The natural oils give it a "beautiful sheen," "beautiful aging over time," and "smooth leather texture."

Basic Care for Leather Shoes

Basic care for leather shoes involves removing dirt and moisturizing. If you wear them 2 to 3 times a week, aim to care for them about once a month.

Start by removing dirt with a brush. Since leather shoes tend to be sturdier and thicker than bags or small accessories, we recommend brushing with a somewhat firm boar-bristle brush.

G.B.KENT (Jibi Kento), an English brand devoted solely to brush-making since 1777, offers brushes suited to each specific item. Their shoe brushes, made with resilient boar bristles, feature bristle tufts of moderate height with randomly arranged tips, making it easy to remove dust and dirt.

When brushing the surface, work from the toe toward the heel (①). Be thorough around the area between the upper and the sole, as well as behind the heel. For the heel portion, brush downward from top to bottom to remove dirt (②).

Dust tends to accumulate easily, so remove the laces and carefully brush around the eyelet holes and the seams where the leather overlaps.

Once brushing is complete, move on to moisturizing the leather. Take some leather cream on a soft cloth and work it evenly into the surface of the leather.

TAPIR's Lederpflege cream is made entirely from natural materials, including beeswax and carnauba wax. When using the cream for the first time, apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause any extreme change in color before using it more broadly. Also, be careful not to apply too much cream, as this can actually make the shoes more prone to attracting dust. Finish by wiping with a dry, soft cloth, and the basic care is complete.

To Remove Moisture

One key to removing moisture from inside your shoes is not wearing the same pair every day. Also, properly reshaping and storing your shoes helps them last longer. For storage, we recommend using a shoe tree to smooth out wrinkles created by wear.

Woodlore's combination shoe tree is made from American red cedar, which offers moisture absorption as well as insect- and mold-repelling properties. With a refreshing scent reminiscent of a walk through the forest, this shoe tree features a hinged metal fitting that allows it to be set into shoes without strain. Make it a rule to always place a shoe tree in your leather shoes when storing them, and you'll be able to wear them again in beautiful shape next time.

Basic Care for Leather Wallets and Pen Cases

While bags and shoes may be the most representative leather items, smaller storage items like wallets and pen cases are also frequently made of leather. The reason leather is chosen for these small items, which are opened and closed frequently, comes down above all to its durability—its resistance to tearing and breaking. Leather is also an ideal material for enjoying the unique aging process that comes only with leather.

COMPACT TWIN PURSE / ARTS&CRAFTS (Arts and Crafts)

The COMPACT TWIN PURSE is made from bacchetta leather, crafted using a plant-based tanning technique that has been passed down in Tuscany, Italy since the early 9th century. Its hallmark is a compact, minimal design with separate compartments for coins and bills.

Pen Case (Roll Type) / Sonnenleder (Zonenreda)

Sonnenleder is a leather goods brand that uses traditional German tanning methods. They produce many cowhide items that grow softer the more you use them.

Occasional Special Care

Wallets and pen cases are used daily, held and touched by hand. Since this handling helps keep the leather's natural oils in balance, special care is only needed occasionally. This is precisely why it's important to be mindful in everyday use—opening and closing them gently, and avoiding overstuffing the contents.

For storage items that hold things inside, or small accessories kept inside a bag, pressure from both the inside and outside is common. Because of this, when caring for these items, it's important to first remove the contents and reshape the item. Since these are small items, rather than brushing, wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust, then moisturize the surface with leather cream.

Basic Care for Leather Gloves

In addition to durability, leather goods also excel at retaining warmth. Leather gloves are one item that makes the most of this insulating quality, and leather has long been chosen as a material for gloves for this reason.

Lambskin Gloves WINE (Women's Gloves) / RANDERS HANDSKER (Randers Handsker)

RANDERS HANDSKER is a glove brand born in Denmark, in Scandinavia. Their gloves, made from fine-grained, lustrous lambskin, are elegant and provide warmth all the way up to the wrist.

Deerskin Gloves / Burfield (Barfield)

These leather gloves are cut by artisans known as "glove cutters," who are also skilled judges of fine leather, and then carefully assembled by hand. From the moment you slip them on, the smooth texture of the leather is so pleasing to the touch that you'll find it utterly addictive.

Avoid pulling too hard

One thing to keep in mind when using leather gloves is how you handle them. When putting them on or taking them off, do you find yourself pulling on the fingertips or the part around the wrist? This is a habit many of us fall into without realizing it, but it actually puts strain on the gloves. Unlike knitted wool gloves, leather gloves have very little stretch, so pulling on them can cause the material to become stretched out of shape.

For this reason, when putting on or taking off your gloves, hold the broad surface area that rests against your palm, and try to avoid placing strain on the material as much as possible.

Pay attention to how you store your gloves

Another key to keeping gloves that touch your hands looking beautiful for a long time is how you store them.

Leather goods are known to be vulnerable to both heat and moisture. To avoid exposing them to either, store your gloves in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight. Keeping the gloves in their original shape as much as possible while stored will let you use them again without worry when the next season comes around.

Caring for a leather belt for the first time

Now, the last item we'll introduce is the leather belt. It's an item used frequently by men and women alike. Since leather belts go well with business attire, many people own several. As belts tend to play a more supporting role, plenty of people have never given theirs any special care—but there are a few key points to keep in mind if you want yours to last longer.

Leather Belt PV802 / Puntovita

This belt, adorned with distinctive decorative details, is dyed and embellished by hand, piece by piece, by Italian artisans. The body is made from brushed calfskin, and while the material itself has a somewhat rugged character, the decorative touches lend it a pleasing hint of femininity.

Belt Natural / CI-VA

Made in Tuscany, Italy, this simple belt is crafted from natural cowhide that deepens in color and gains richer luster the more it's used. The secret lies in a tanning process called vegetable tanning, which uses tannins derived from plants.

Dealing with creases

Since a belt wraps around your waist, it inevitably develops creases and takes on a curved shape over time. Once removed, it naturally curls right back up, doesn't it? The most effective way to smooth out these creases is to make use of gravity—and using a hanger designed specifically for belts makes this easy.

Also, be aware that creased areas run the risk of cracking if they're allowed to dry out. Just as with other leather goods, thorough moisturizing will help prevent cracking and restore the leather's glossy shine.

So, what did you think of our guide to leather maintenance? If you treat them well, leather goods can stay by your side for years, even decades. Why not learn these maintenance techniques and keep using your leather items like a trusted companion?

▼The professionals of brushes. REDECKER