Leather is prized for its unique combination of softness and durability. Whether it’s a jacket, pair of pants, a skirt, or any other garment, you can’t go wrong with genuine leather. People have used this material to produce clothes for hundreds of years, so it’s unlikely this trend will be going away anytime soon.
But like all materials, leather will fade over time. Some people actually prefer the look of worn, faded leathers, but others prefer the look of original leather. If you fall into the first category, you’ll be glad to here that there are steps you can take to make old leather look new again.
Protect clothing from external influences
The first step towards revitalizing the appearance of old leather is to remove it from the sun. I know what you’re probably thinking: what if my leather garment is already being stored indoors? Just because you keep it stored indoors doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s protected from the sun. If you keep your leather jacket in front of a window, for instance, the sunlight will beam through and cause it to fade. This isn’t something that happens overnight, but exposing leather to sunlight for months or years on end will eventually cause it to fade — heck, that’s enough to cause practically any colored material to fade.
The second step to make your leather garment look new again is to moisturize and condition it. When leather begins to exhibit the appearance of aging, it’s usually the result of it being dehydrated — yes, leather can become dehydrated, too. The moisture within the pores of the leather will evaporate into the air, leaving it dry and arid, which is where a leather conditioning product comes into play: these products are designed to restore the lost moisture to leather, filling the pores with just enough moisture to preserve its attractive characteristics.
In conclusion
Apply a small amount of your preferred conditioning product to the leather, rubbing it in until it’s no longer visible. You should notice an improvement in the look and feel of your leather garment almost instantly, as it becomes softer with a deeper, more natural-looking color.
After restoring your leather garment back to its original state, try to get into the habit of re-conditioning it on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to apply the conditioner at least once every other month. Doing so will prevent it from drying out while also helping to preserve its natural characteristics.