How To Care For Leather

At ROWDY, it is in our ethos to make beautiful products that will last a lifetime. That’s why every bag we make comes with the ROWDY Promise. This means that we offer a certified lifetime guarantee on all our products, but this only applies to manufacturing defects such as loose stitches, broken zipper or faulty fittings.

 Luckily, leather is a durable material that can last for decades but requires proper care on your end too. Over time, leather loses its moisture and oils, which can lead the fibres to break rather than stretch. The more you use your bag, the faster this can happen. Therefore, just like our own skin, your bag will need moisturising and caring.

Here are our ROWDY care tips:

Moisturise: To extend the life of your leather, treat it with a leather conditioner and avoid extreme temperatures. Always do spot testing before you apply any product on the leather. ROWDY offers our own leather food for our aniline (‘shiny’ leather) bags. If you have a ROWDY nubuck leather bag, please use a Nubuck spray, as the suede-like texture will absorb a normal leather food and this will darken the leather. Sometimes, a clean pink eraser can remove small spots from leather bags as well.

Water Damage: If you’ve accidentally spilt water on your leather, do not dry the leather with a hairdryer! Instead, absorb as much water as possible with a thick microfiber hand towel and allow the bag to air dry. If a white line forms around the stain, then use a pink eraser and lightly rub out the white line.

 Oily Stains: Use a damp cloth and wipe lightly. If the stain persists, rub some baby powder onto the stain gently using an old toothbrush to disperse. Leave it on overnight and wipe off in the morning. This should help lift the stain. Oily marks are almost impossible to completely remove, so handle your bag with clean hands. Do not use cleaning products that contain alcohol, as these will dry out and possibly discolour your leather item.

 Scratches: The best way to treat scratches is to avoid it in the first place. Keep your satchel away from sharp objects and pay careful attention when putting your bag down. To treat scratches, if the scratches are small, rub it gently with your fingers as the natural oils on your finger will work into the leather. For larger scratches and marks apply a tiny amount of oil to the mark, let it soak in for a few minutes and then wipe the excess away with a clean soft cloth.

 Protect: Keep cosmetics inside a pouch - We can recommend our Travel Pouch. Cap all pens and anything that leaks. Get a small pencil case to protect the leather and keep small items from spilling or damaging the fabric.

Even with excellent care, your bag will age - and it is supposed to. This ageing effect is called the bags ‘Patina’, it’s a very cherished and admired effect that is almost impossible to replicate properly without submitting it to the natural wear and tear that leather bags go through from everyday use. This natural ageing process adds character to a bag and gives it a life-story of its very own, every mark, scratch and crack tells a tale.

For more tips and tricks on leather care, read Tamara Segal's advice on How to Take Care of Your Designer Bags and Shoes at Home  via Porch.