A high-quality leather jacket is a smart investment that will offer you countless years of use and enjoyment. It's soft, comfortable, supple and looks great with a variety of outfits. Best of all, you can wear a leather jacket for formal and casual occasions - something that can't be said for most other jackets and forms of outerwear. If you're thinking about buying a leather jacket, though, you may want to follow some basic precautions to preserve its shiny texture.

Why Leather Jackets Have a Shiny Texture

While there are always exceptions, you'll probably discover that most leather jackets have a shiny texture. Whether it's black, brown or red, leather is typically made with a shiny surface that reflects light. There are a few reasons for this characteristic, one of which is protection from the elements. You see, manufacturers often add a polish or finish to their leather to protect it from moisture. After producing the leather, they'll add a layer of polish or finish to "lock in" the moisture and protect the surface from damage. This layer serves as a barrier of protection, preventing the moisture in the leather from evaporating, while also preventing damage from exterior elements. Additionally, a shiny texture creates a more stylish appearance that many people prefer. You can always identify a new leather jacket by its texture. It usually has shiny surface that reflects light similar to the way in which a gloss surface reflects light. It's a stunning appearance that enhances the aesthetics of the jacket. For these reasons and others, many men and women prefer wearing leather jackets with a shiny texture.

Watch the Sunlight

To keep your leather jacket shiny, it's recommended that you limit the amount of time it's exposed to sunlight. The longer it's exposed to sunlight, the greater the risk of damage to the finish or polish. And once this protective layer wears away, the jacket will feature matte texture rather than a shiny texture. The problem with sunlight is that it contains ultraviolet (UV) rays. Just like UV light damages our skin, it also damages leather. Over time, UV exposure will break down the protective finis or polish covering the leather, resulting in a dull texture. Leather isn't the only textile that's susceptible to sun fading.  The truth is that most textiles will fade when exposed to the sun's UV rays for a prolonged length of time. Nonetheless, you can protect and preserve your leather jacket's texture by limiting the amount of time that's exposed to sunlight. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to avoid wearing your leather jacket outdoors, but you should consider storing it in a shaded environment. If your leather jacket is placed near a window where it's constantly exposed to sunlight, it will fade and become less shiny. This isn't something that happens overnight. But months of years of prolonged exposure to sunlight will eventually make your jacket's texture dull

Re-Polish It

Even if you follow the tips mentioned above, the shiny polish covering your leather jacket may eventually wear away. Thankfully, there's a quick and easy way to restore its appearance: re-polishing it. You can pick up leather polish from most leather specialty stores. Alternatively, you can use a high-quality shoe polish for this purpose. Either way, you should apply a generous amount of the polish to the surface of your leather jacket, rubbing it in until there are no visible clumps left. Once the polish has been added, it will create a shiny texture that enhances your jacket's aesthetics. To keep your leather jacket shiny, try to get into the habit of re-polishing it at least once a month.

Choose Genuine Leather

If you're looking to buy a new leather jacket, make sure it's made of genuine leather and not some fake or faux material. Countless companies out there deceive shoppers by labeling their jackets as "leather." The problem is that their jackets don't actually contain leather. They are made of synthetic materials designed to look and feel like leather. Known as fake or faux leather, these jackets lack the attractive qualities and characteristics that make leather such a prized textile. They usually have a rough, dull surface, for instance, that doesn't reflect light. So, if you want a jacket with a shiny texture, stick with genuine leather. Here at LeatherCult, we offer one of the largest selections of high-quality genuine leather jackets at rock-bottom prices.

Condition It

In addition to re-polishing your leather jacket, you should also condition it. This involves applying a leather conditioner like saddle soap to the surface. Leather conditioners are intended to moisturize leather with just enough moisture to protect it from drying out. When a leather jacket loses its shiny texture, it's often the result of dryness. The leather loses its moisture content, resulting in a dull, matte finish. This is easily prevented, however, by conditioning your leather jacket. You rub the conditioner into the surface of your jacket, at which point it moisturizes the leather and protects it from drying out.

Can I Make My Leather Jacket Less Shiny?

While most people prefer leather jackets with a shiny texture, some men and women prefer a dull texture. With the shiny texture removed, a leather jacket will look older and more worn in. So, how do you remove the shiny texture? This involves rubbing it down with alcohol. Store-bought rubbing alcohol will strip away the protective polish or finish coating your leather jacket. Once this layer is removed, your jacket will have a dull, matte finish. Just remember to condition it shortly thereafter to prevent the leather from drying out. Don't let the shiny texture of your leather jacket fade away. By following these tips, you can preserve the shiny texture of your jacket while protecting it from damage in the process. And if you want to remove the shiny texture, simply follow the advice previously mentioned.