Garment Care

Always treat a leather garment with the care and respect that a luxury garment deserves.

	Keep it on a well shaped or padded hanger to avoid distorting the shoulder line.
	Protect the leather from unnecessary soiling.
	When wet allow to dry naturally away from direct heat. Leather garments should not be dried in front of the fire or by hanging them over the radiator.
	Don't allow adhesive labels, such as charity flag day stickers to be stuck to suede or leather garments as the adhesive can cause discoloration or damage the finish.

Home Care
Many leather garments carry aftercare labels which should be followed, but the secret of home care lies in testing first on a hidden area such as an inside facing or under a pocket flap. If any colour is removed, stop immediately as the treatment is not appropriate. Check the trial area for any damage before starting on the outside of the garment. If the test area has been wetted it should be allowed to dry naturally before checking for changes.

Whatever treatment is used, work on one panel at a time and finish that one before moving to the next. Give each panel the same treatment for the same length of time. If you use a proprietary product, follow the manufacturer's directions casrefully.

Grain Leathers
These may be finished or unfinished (full aniline) leathers. They can be distinguished by putting a drop of water on a hidden area. If the water is absorbed rapidly, with a darkening of the leather, then it is unfinished, but if it stays on the surface it is either a finished leather or it has been treated to make it water-repellent.

Finished leathers can be cleaned by wiping the surface with a damp cloth. If the soiling is more stubborn then a very dilute soap solution can be used instead.

Any worn or scuffed areas can be masked by the use of colour restoration products which are available at shoe shops and shoe repairers. These are available in many colours and if the correct colour can't be found they can be mixed within their own ranges. The colour should be matched carefully or the repair could be more objectionable than the damage.

Unfinished Leathers present more of a problem as water will penetrate into the leather and cause staining. The surface may be polished with a soft dry cloth but treatment beyond this should be left to a professional leather cleaner.

Suede and Nubuck Leathers
When new they can be treated with a protective spray (see products). This will improve water and grease resistance but can cause a slight darkening. Follow the instructions on the can and don't hold it too close to the leather surface during use.

Brush the nap occasionally with a dry sponge or soft bristled clothes brush. This is best done when the suede is slightly damp, for example after hanging in a steamy bathroom. Don't use a wire or hard bristled brush and don't try to dampen suede by using the steam from a kettle.

Rain may cause temporary darkening whilst the nap is wet but should dry out to the original colour. If there is a residual darkening then the suede can be brushed to restore the original colour. As this is likely to happen every time the garment gets wet you could use a protective spray to prevent the problem occurring.

If a water spot can't be brushed out, often leaving a darker periphery, then there might have been a migration of dye and the evenness of colour can be difficult to restore. A specialist cleaner may be able to help.

There are products available to remove light soiling from suede and nubuck.

Wet Leathers

If a garment gets seriously wet you need to take special care to prevent the leather suffering as it dries.

	Remove big or heavy items from the pockets or they may distort the garment as it dries
	Blot carefully with a dry towel to remove excess water
	Allow to air dry naturally at room temperature and keep away from sunlight or direct heat
	When dry you could apply an appropriate leather conditioner or protective product