by Leather | Leather Care |
Sunlight can take its toll on practically any fabric or garment, and leather is no exception. Leaving your leather jacket outside where it’s exposed to the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays day after day will inevitably cause damage. This isn’t something that happens immediately, but constant exposure can and will damage your leather. To learn more about this phenomenon and how to prevent it, keep reading. As you may already know, sunlight contains radiation in the form of ultraviolet (UV) light. This is the same light that’s largely responsible for triggering the formation of cancerous skin cells such as melanoma. UV light is inherently powerful, causing disturbances on a molecular level. But it doesn’t just affect our skin cells. It can also affect leather. UV effect on leather When leather is exposed to UV light over a prolonged length of time, its structure begins to change. The first thing you’ll likely notice is discoloration. The once dark, neutral color of leather will transform into a lighter, more faded color. If it’s exposed to sunlight for long enough, will turn almost white, with a slight tan coloring. This alone isn’t exactly a serious issue that’s going to damage your leather, but it’s just one of the many ways in which sunlight affects leather. As leather remains exposed to UV light, it will begin to dry out. This is due to the fact that UV light evaporates the moisture from it. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that leather is incredibly porous, featuring thousands upon thousands of tiny pores that absorb and release moisture. Sunlight...
by Leather | Leather Care |
It’s only natural to want your leather to maintain its look and feel for the years to come, and it certainly can. The key to this is caring for your boots, jackets and other leather garments properly, and learning how to use saddle soap in conjunction with the best conditioners. There’s no other material or fabric that compares to the versatility of genuine leather. Whether it’s made of cow’s hide, sheep’s hide or any other common animal hide, leather offers the perfect balance of comfort, style, and durability. Perhaps this is why it remains one of the world’s most widely used materials in the production of jackets and accessories. If you’re thinking about buying new leather pants or some other leather garment, you’ll need to know how to care for it. Leather — like all materials — requires regular maintenance to preserve its original appearance and characteristics. Failure to do so could result in degradation and subsequent shortening of the lifespan of your leather garment. While there are dozens of ways to clean and care for leather, one of the best all-around solutions is to use saddle soap. So, what is saddle soap exactly? And how do you use it on leather? To learn more about saddle soap, keep reading. The Basics Some people assume that saddle soap is designed specifically for leather saddles, but this is a misconception. Granted, as its name suggests, you can certainly use saddle soap to clean and maintain saddles, but this is far from its only application. Saddle soap is perfect for a range of leather products, including, but certainly not limited to:...
by Leather | Leather Care |
The right fabric can make a world of difference in both the comfort and aesthetics of clothing. Whether it’s a jacket, shirt, pants, dress, etc., you should pay close attention to the fabric from which it was made. Some of the most common fabrics used in the construction of clothing include cotton, wool, silk, polyester, tweed, and leather. Of these fabrics, there’s no better choice than leather, and here’s why. Leather is Classic With leather, you can rest assured knowing that it’s a classic, timeless fabric that’s been used in the construction of clothing for over a century (yes, it’s really that old). Fashion trends come and go; what’s “hot” one year may be gone the next. However, leather remains one of the world’s most popular fabrics for clothing, as it’s used to create to everything from shirts and pants to jackets, leggings and even accessories like belts and bracelets. Regardless of your personal style, you can’t go wrong with a genuine leather garment. The classic nature of this fabric make it the perfect choice for fashion-forward men and women alike. It’s Versatile There are dozens upon dozens of ways in which leather garments can be worn. Some women prefer the sleek and stylish look of a black leather dress, which is a great way to make a fashion statement at parties and events. Leather leggings have also become a popular choice among women. Pairing them with a long blouse will enhance your image in a fun and flirty manner. Guys can also benefit from leather clothing. Leather jackets, shirts and pants are all excellent choices for guys. The...
by Leather | Leather Care, Leather Jackets |
Purchasing a leather jacket is a smart investment that will offer you countless years of enjoyment. Leather jackets have been around for over a century now, dating as far back as World War I. While new styles have since been introduced into this classic form of outwear, the general concept of leather jackets remains the same: they are made with genuine leather to create a comfortable, stylish form of outwear that’s perfect for both men and women alike. But if you’re going to invest in a genuine leather jacket, you’ll need to know how to care for it. Like all jackets, leather jackets require some routine cleaning and maintenance to preserve their pristine appearance. With that said, leather differs from many synthetic materials, meaning you’ll need to take a different approach to cleaning and caring for it. If you’re still scratching your head trying to determine the best way to care for your new leather jacket, keep reading for some essential tips and tricks. Don’t Wash I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should never wash a genuine leather jacket. Leather is susceptible to damage caused by water and moisture. Exposing your leather jacket to small amounts of moisture from rain, spilled liquids, etc. shouldn’t cause any major harm. But if you place it in a washing machine, the excess water may cause permanent damage. Unless you are willing to take this chance (hint: you shouldn’t), it’s recommended that you avoid washing your leather jacket in the washing machine. Spot Clean If you aren’t allowed to machine wash a leather jacket,...
by Leather | Leather Care, Leather Jackets |
Whether it’s a leather jacket, shirt, dress, or pants, all leather is susceptible to fading. After wearing and washing a leather garment for months or even years on end, it may lose the bright luster that it once had. Of course, this isn’t a phenomenon that’s restricted only to leather. The truth is that all fabrics and materials will fade over time. So, how can you protect your leather garments from fading? Choose High-Quality Leather Don’t assume that all leather is made equal. Even if two garments look the same, they could be made with leather of contrasting quality. For instance, full-grain leather is considered the highest quality type of leather, as it’s made with hide that has not been sanded or buffed. The second highest quality type of leather is top grain, which is made with the split grain separated away from the hide. Watch the Sunlight Want to know the single largest contributing factor to the color fading of leather? It’s prolonged exposure to sunlight. When exposed to sunlight for excessive lengths of time, leather garments will begin to fade. This doesn’t happen overnight, but rather months of exposure will cause the gradual fading of its color. So if you’re looking to protect your leather garments from fading, you should store them in a dark, shaded area that’s not directly exposed to sunlight. Condition it If there’s one step in maintaining leather than you don’t want to skip, it’s conditioning. Using a high-quality leather conditioning product will protect your garment from common forms of damage, including color fading. The key thing to remember, however, is that you...
by Leather | Leather Care |
Whether it’s a jacket, pants, shirt, belt, or shoes, all leather items must be given a little TLC to preserve their attractive appearance and physical characteristics. Unfortunately, many people overlook the importance of caring for their leather garments and accessories, resulting in a shorter “lifespan.” With a little bit of work, however, can you prolong the life of leather, allowing you to get several years of use of your favorite leather jacket. Keep it Dry The golden rule of caring for leather — any type of leather — is to keep it dry. Leather and moisture do not mix, as it may cause mold or mildew to form. And when this occurs, it’s next-to-impossible to treat. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to leave your leather jacket at home on a rainy day, but rather wipe it dry so it’s completely saturated with moisture. …But Not Too Dry It’s important to keep your leather dry, but it shouldn’t be too dry. Although invisible to the naked eye, leather contains thousands of small, microscopic pores on the surface which absorb and release moisture from the surrounding environment. When these pores don’t receive moisture, they will dry up and crack, causing damage to the leather. Use a Leather Conditioner So, how are you supposed to keep your leather garments and accessories moist without placing them at risk for water-related damage? The easiest solution is to use a leather conditioning product, such as Saddle Soap. Consisting of mild soap, water, lanolin and beeswax, it will moisturize your leather items while adding a protective coat over the surface in the process. Try...
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